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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

f \^\ 

Chapr: Copyright No. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



DEC 18 1899 




Militayy Heroes, U. S. 



Assassination of Colonel Ellsworth. 



ALTEMUS' VOVNG PEOPLE'S LIBRARY 

MILITARY HEROES 



OF THE 



UNITED STATES 



FROM LEXINGTON TO SANTIAGO 



BY 

HARTWELL JAMES 



WITH NINETY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS 



PHILADELPHIA 

HENRY ALTEMUS 






IN UNIFORM STYLE 



Copiausly Illustrated 



THE pilgrim's PROGRESS 

Alice's adventures in wonderland 

through the looking-glass k what alice found there 

robinson crusoe 

THE child's story OF THE BIBLE 

THE child's life OF CHRIST 

LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES* 

THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 

THE FABLES OF iESOP 

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA 

MOTHER goose's RHYMES, JINGLES AND FAIRY TALES 

EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE IN THE FROZEN SEAS 

THE STORY OF DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION IN AFRICA 

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS 

ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS 

wood's NATURAL HISTORY 

A child's HISTORY OF ENGLAND, by CHARLES DICKENS 

BLACK BEAUTY, by ANNA SEWELL 

ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES . 8£C0ND QOPV, 

GRIMM's FAIRY TALES ' . 

grandfather's chair, by NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE 

FLOWER FABLES, by LOUISA M. ALCOTT 

AUNT MARTHA'S CORNKR CUPBOARD Ql \ ^V CX G> 

watp:r-babies, by charles kingslky ^ ^*" 

BATTLES OF THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE 
BATTLES OF THE WAR FOR THE UNION^ 
YOUNG people's HISTORY OF SPANISH WAR 
HEROES OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY 
HEROES OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY 



NCE 



Price 50 CcJits Each 
Henry Altemus, Philadelphia 



Copyright, i8gg, by Henty Altemus 



rWO COPIES FlECEl^t '^ 



Library of C0Jigra«8iii 
Offlca of tiafi 






PAGE. 

INTRODUCTORY 5 

MILITARY HEROES OF THE U. S 7 

PAUL REVERE 10 

JOSEPH WARREN 19 

GEORGE WASHINGTON 23 

ISRAEL PUTNAM 36 

NATHAN HALE 42 

ETHAN ALLEN 46 

JOHN STARK 52 

rNATHANIEL GREENE 58 

I^NTHONY WAYNE 65 

FRANCIS MARION 71 

HUGH MERCER 77 

RICHARD MONTGOMERY 81 

PHILIP SCHUYLER 86 

BENEDICT ARNOLD 90 

DANIEL MORGAN 98 



iv. Contents. 

]\lAlun'lf> HF. LAFxVYETTE lOJ 

\^m\E\\ JACKSON lie 

SAM HOUSTON 11^ 

^ACHAllY TAYLOR 121 

m^NFIELD SCOTT 127 

ULYSSES S. (JRANT 1^1 

WILLIAM T. SHERMAN' 1^^ 

PHTLIR H. SHEIHDAN 1-^6 

GEORGE B. McCLELLAN 1'53 

AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE 158 

GEORGE H. THOMAS 161 

JOSEPH HOOKER ^^ 

GEORGE G. MEADE 1^9 

GEORGE A. CUSTER ^"'^ 

ELMER E. ELLSWORTH 1"^^ 

I^OBERT E. LEE ^^^ 

THOMAS J. JACKSON 1^9 

NELSON A. MILES ^^^ 

JOSEPH WHEELER ^^^ 

THEODORE ROOSEVELT 205 




INTRODUCTORY. 



l^T apology is necessary for a series of sketches por- 
1\| fraying intelligent military heroism. It is right 
that we acclaim oiir heroes, and tell the stories of 
their lives by our firesides. 

Heroic traditions make heroic nations, and while it does 
not follow that those who handled the bayonet, swung the 
sabre, or sent the pitiless shell into opposing ranks at 
Gettysburg were emulating the deeds of their Fathers in 
the days of the Revolution, or that those who swarmed up 
the hills and through the ingenious entanglements of the 
Spanish defenses at San Juan and El Caney were con- 
sciously stimulated by the traditions of the Civil War; yet 
the love of country and humanity was there and set the 
fighting string twanging in the breast, and nerved the arm 
to deeds of irresistible valor. 

The lives of the commanding figures that are shown on 
the pages of American military history are worthy of emu- 
lation. From Lexington to Santiago the story is the same 
— the record is splendid. 

5 




MILITARY HEROES 
OP THE UNITED STATES. 

MASSACHUSETTS was the soul of the movement 
that led to the revolt of the English provinces in 
America, and the first appeal to arms between the 
colonists and the mother country took place npon her soil. 
George III. was King, and General Gage occupied the city 
of Boston with a British army in the year 1775. Both 
sides were making preparations for the coming strife. A 
" Committee of Supplies " had gathered military stores at 
Concord, and learning of this, Gage sent a detachment of 
about eight hundred men to destroy them, on the night of 

7 



8 Miiilanj Heroes of the United Stales. 

April 18; but information of the niovoniont had reached 
the Committee, and Dr. Joseph Warren despatched Wil- 
liam Dawes throiigli Roxhnry and Paul Revere by way of 
Charlestown to Lexington. Revere was stopped by two 




British officers, but being mounted on a fine horse he es- 
caped. As he rode through Medford he aroused the cap- 
tains of the minute-men, and stopping at almost every house 
on his way to Lexington, aroused the inhabitants and 
spread the news. Dawes also reached Lexington in safety. 



10 MUiianj Heroes of the United States. 



PAUL REVERE. 

TTTTS American patriot was born on January 1, 1735, 
in the city of Boston. His occupation was that of 
a goldsmith, but he leanied tlie art of engraving on 
copper, and in 1775 engraved and printed tlie paper money 
ordered by Congress. He was one of the band who threw 
the tea overboard in Boston harbor. He died in Boston, 
^lay 10, 1818, at the age of eiglity-three years. Long- 
fellow immortalized him in a stirring poem entitled " Paul 
Eevere's Ride." 

Samuel Prescott spread the alarm from Lexington to 
Concord, and about two o'clock in the morning the alarm 
bell on the belfry in the meeting-house brought together 
the inhabitants, young and old, with their firelocks. Mes- 
sengers were sent to other villages, and stores and pro- 
visions were hurried away and secreted in the woods. 

At Lexington, at about the same hour, the village green 
was thronged with excited men. The aged stood shoulder 
to shoulder with their sons, and by their example and 
experience gave encouragement and strength to the undis- 
ciplined mass. One hundred and thirty men had answered 
to their names. Captain John Parker, their commander, 
had ordered each piece loaded with powder and ball; but 
the men were instructed not to be the first to fire. Xo 
signs of the approach of the enemy being visible, they were 
dismissed with orders to reassemble at the roll of the 
drum. 




^ 



12 MUlianj Heroes of iJic UnHed States. 

The foremost party of the British came in sight about 
eleven o'clock in the forenoon of April 10, led by Major 
Pitcairn. Knowing that their errand was discovered, six 
companies of light infantry were despatched to Concord to 
secure the two bridges over the river, and messengers were 
sent to ]^>oston for reinforcements. As the drnms beat the 
alarm, about seventy men a.sseml)led on the village green, 
nearly half of whom were without arms. Captain Parker 
ordered them to go to the meeting-house and equip them- 
selves and then join the company. Thirty-eight men who 
were armed he formed into line, in single file, at the north 
end of the green. r>efore those who were in the meeting- 
house could equip themselves, Pitcairn's men came up and 
cut them off from the little band under Parker. Pitcairn 
marched his men to about fifty feet from the handful of 
patriots, and then, brandishing his sword, he shouted: 
" Disperse, you villains! Lay down your arms! Why don't 
you disperse, you rebels? Disperse!" The patriots stood 
their ground, and then Pitcairn gave the order to "Fire!" 
The order was followed first by a few guns, which did no 
execution, and then by a close and deadly discharge of 
musketry. In the disparity of numbers, Parker ordered 
every man to take care of himself, and they accordingly 
dispersed. VThile doing so, the second platoon of the enemy 
fired, killing several and wounding others. Then, and not 
till, then, did a few of the patriots, on their own impulse, 
return the British fire. These random shots of fugitives or 
dying men did no harm. Seven of the patriots ^vere killed 
and nine wounded. One who w^as taken prisoner was shot 
in his endeavor to escape. Thus the first skirmish for lib- 
erty was fought. 



Paul Revere. 13 

The Britisli piislied on to Concord and destroyed the 
stores. The liberty-pole and several gun-carriages were 
burned; the court-house took fire, but the fire was extin- 
guished. By this time some four hundred patriots had 
gathered on the rising ground above Concord bridge. 
^^Will you let them burn down the town?" cried one. 
Taking counsel together, the entire body resolved " To 
march into the middle of the town, for its defense, or die 
in the attempt." Colonel Barrett, who was in command, 
gave orders to advance, but not to fire unless attacked. 
" I have not a man that is afraid to go/' said Isaac Davis, 
of Acton, and drawing his sword, he cried: "March!'' At 
the head of his men he led the way to the bridge, with 
Major Buttrick, of Concord, by his side, followed by the 
minute-men and militia. The British began to take up 
the planks; to prevent it the patriots quickened their steps. 
At this the British fired one or two shots up the river; 
then another, by which two were wounded. A volley fol- 
lowed, and Isaac Davis and Abner Hosmer fell dead. Then 
Major Buttrick gave the order, " Fire, fellow soldiers; for 
God's sake, fire!" and a general discharge from the whole 
line of patriots was given, several of the enemy, including 
three lieutenants, falling on the spot. In two minutes all 
was hushed. The British retreated in disorder towards 
their main body; the countrymen were left in possession of 
the bridge. 

At this world-renowned Battle of Concord the patriots 
acted from impulse, and at first attempted no pursuit, but 
as the British forces retreated the militia ran over the lines 
and ambushed the flying troops. Every piece of woods, 
every rock by the wayside, served as a lurking place. The 



14 Military Heroes of ihe United States. 

hills seemed to the British to swarm with '' rebels " as 
an unintermitted fire was poured on them from behind 
stone walls and trees. The Britisli Ijo^an to run rather 
than retreat in order. Their ollicers vainly tried to stop 
their flight, for they were being driven before the Ameri- 
cans like sheep. About two o'clock in the afternoon rein- 
forcements met them, and forming into a square enclosed 
the fugitives, who lay down for rest on the ground, *' their 
tongues hanging out of their mouths like those of dogs 
after a chase." After a rest of half an hour the British 
resumed their retreat, but the patriots dogged every step 
and finally drove them under the guns of the shi]is-of-war 
in the harbor of J Boston. 

After Lexington and Concord the militia hurried to 
Boston. As their terms of service expired other troops 
were enlisted. There was great want of money, clothing 
and ammunition. The Committee of Safety decided " That 
Bunker's Hill be maintained by sufficient force being 
posted there," and on the night of June 16, 17'75, about 
one thousand men, under the command of Colonel William 
Prescott, assembled on Cambridge Common. After a 
prayer by President Langdon, of Harvard College, the 
troops marched to Breed's Hill, " as being the more com- 
manding site," and there entrenchments were thrown up; 
yet the memorable engagement that followed will always 
be known as the Battle of Bunker Hill. So rapidly did 
the patriots ply their entrenching tools through the hot 
night that by daylight the breastworks " assumed form and 
height and capacity for defense." 

About three o'clock, on June 17, the British troops 
advanced to the assault. Twice the patriots' terrible fire 



16 



J\[iTlfnyy ITerops of ilip VnUcd f^iaies. 



drove them back in confusion, but llieir ammunition gave 
out, and after the third attack they were obliged to retreat 




Death of Major Pitcairn. 

across Charlestown neck. The slaughter among the Brit- 
ish was terrific. Among those shot down was Major Pit- 



18 Military Heroes of the United States. 

cairn, -who had ordered the "rebels" to disperse at Lex- 
ington. " Nothing/' wrote a British officer, " could be 
more shocking than the carnage that followed the storming 
of this work. We tumbled over the dead to get at the 
living, Avho wore crowding out of the gorge of the redoul)t 



Prescott's Men in the Redoubt. 



in order to form imder the defenses which they had pre- 
pared to cover their retreat." Before the British attacked, 
the tall form of Prescott was seen walking leisurely along 
the parapet to inspire his men. General Gage, in Boston, 
by the aid of a glass, could plainly see his commanding 



Joseph Warren. 19 

figure^ and turning to Counselor Willard, who stood near 
him, asked who it was. Willard, recognizing his brother- 
in-law, said: "That is Colonel Prescott/' "Will he 
fight?" inquired Gage. "Yes, sir/' replied Willard; "he 
is an old soldier, and will fight as long as a drop of blood 
remains in his veins." " The works must be carried im- 
mediately," responded Gage, as he turned upon his heel to 
give orders. 

Prescott was the last to leave the fort. Though his coat 
and waistcoat were pierced with bayonet-thrusts, which he 
parried with his sword, he got off unhurt. Among the 
killed was Dr. Joseph Warren, one of the most active and 
distinguished of the patriots. 



JOSEPH WARREK 

JOSEPH WAREEN was born on July 11, 1741, at 
Roxbury, Massachusetts. He was a brilliant scholar, 
and after his graduation from Harvard College 
studied medicine and became one of the best physicians in 
Boston. He early espoused the cause of liberty and became 
a firm supporter of the cause of the colonists. He pos- 
sessed a fine, magnetic presence and an engaging address, 
and became known as a fluent writer and an eloquent 
speaker. In 1768 he was one of the influential members 
of the " Sons of Liberty," and it is recorded that " no im- 
portant measures were taken without consulting him and 
his particular friends." He filled various high offices in the 
history of the colonies, and succeeded John Hancock as 



20 Military Heroes of the United States. 

President of the Provincial Congress. When the fourth an- 
niversary of the Boston massacre arrived Warren solicited 
the privilege of delivering the anniversary address, in spite 
of the threats of the British officers that "They would take 
the life of any man who would dare speak on that occa- 
sion." In an eloquent speech, in which he pictured the 
wrongs of the colonists, he declared tliat " Resistance to 
tyrants is obedience to God." 

Warren was a member of the Committee of Safety, and 
was commissioned a major-general four days previous 
to the battle of Bunker Hill. To a friend who urged 
him not to be present on that occasion, and who 
predicted his death if he participated in the inevitable 
engagement, Warren replied: "It is sweet to die for 
one's country." Warren reached the redoubt on Breed's 
Hill just before the battle opened, public business 
having prevented him from arriving sooner. Colonel 
Prescott offered him the command and asked for or- 
ders, but he replied that it was honor enough to serve un- 
der so brave an officer, and, borrowing a musket, rushed 
into the thickest of the fight. When the patriots' ammu- 
nition was spent, and the Americans had begun their sullen 
retreat, Warren was among the last to leave the field. A 
musket ball struck him in the head and killed him. He 
was buried on the spot where he fell, but during the next 
year his remains were removed to the family vault in Bos- 
ton. Eventually they were placed in St. Paul's Church, in 
that city. In 1794 a monument was raised to his memory 
in Charlcstown. In 1857 a statue of General Warren was 
enclosed in Bunker Hill Monument. 

Congress met for the second time after the skirmish at 
Lexington and the more decisive engagement at Concord. 




Joseph Warren. 



21 



k' 



22 Military Heroes of the United States. 

A military Confederacy was formed, and General George 
Washington was the unanimous choice for commander-in- 




Death of General Warren. 

chief of the Continental Army. He declined compensation 
for his services, asking only that his expenses be defrayed. 
Pie immediately started for Boston, then occupied by a 
British army. On his way there he was told that the 
patriots had stood their ground until their ammu- 
nition was expended, he exclaimed: "The liberties of our 
country are safe!" 




GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



GEOEGE WASHINGTON, the first commander-in- 
cliief of the armies of the United States, was born 
in Westmoreland County, Virginia, February 22, 
1732. His father was Augustine Washington, whose an- 
cestry can be traced back to the year 1183. The house in 
which Washington was born was burned down when he was 
a boy, but the spot where it stood is marked by a stone slab. 
When Washington was a boy of eleven years his father died, 
and he grew up under the tender care of his mother. His 

23 



24 MlVdanj Heroes of the United States. 

education was that afforded by the common schools of the 
neighborhood, but later he studied surveying and book- 
keeping. His copy-books show that he wrote a very neat 
hand. He excelled in athletic sports, and was proficient in 
horsemanship. He was, from his youth, noted for honor 
and truthfulness. Among the many anecdotes related of 
the boyhood of Washington is the story of how he muti- 
lated one of his father's cherry trees. AAHien questioned 
about the matter he did not deny it, but said: 

" Father, T cannot tell a lie; I cut the tree." 

" I had rather lose a thousand trees than find falsehood 
in my son," replied his father, as he tenderly embraced 
him. 

Later in his life, at a social gathering given in honor of 
her son, his venerable mother stood by his side, and, as 
the clocks struck the hour of nine, she laid her hand upon 
his shoulder, and said: "Come, George, it is time to re- 
tire. Late hours are injurious." Throughout his life Wash- 
ington retained the habits of obedience, sobriety and punc- 
tuality which he learned from his mother. 

AVashington's father left a large estate, and, after the 
death of his brother Lawrence, Washington inherited the 
estate of Blount Yernon. At the age of sixteen he began 
the profession of a civil engineer, and spent a year in sur- 
veying the immense possessions of Lord Fairfax in the 
Shenandoah Valley. Later he became the public surveyor, 
and when nineteen ^vas a major commanding a military dis- 
trict. 

A\nien England and France grappled in combat for the 
possession of America, the Governor of Virginia sent the 
young surveyor on a perilous mission across the trackless 




Washington as a Young Man, 



26 



26 Military Heroes of the United States. 

wilds to a French fort near Lake Erie. On his return he 
was in great danger from the Indians, and nearly lost his 
life in crossing the Allegheny River. For this service he 
received the thanks of the Legislature of his State. As a 
lieutenant-colonel he was sent, in 1754, with a regiment, to 
build forts near the Ohio Kiver, and to drive away the 
French. He built Fort Necessity and killed or captured a 
detachment of French soldiers. Later he was attacked by 
a French force superior to his own and was obliged to sur- 
render. Eventually he and his troops were allowed to 
return to Virginia. He continued to serve during the re- 
mainder of the French and Indian war, and after the de- 
feat of General Braddock he saved the army by his skill 
and courage. 

It was a beautiful summer's day when Braddock and his 
army of two thousand men entered a defile upon the banks 
of the Monongahela. The underbrush grew thick and high 
and the great trees cast deep shadows on the army as it 
confidently advanced with weaving banners and gleaming 
muskets. Suddenly a well-directed volley from the French, 
who, with their Indian allies, had planned the ambuscade, 
was poured into the British ranks. Not a foe was to be 
seen, but their deadly rifles sent a message of death from 
every tree and thicket. Nearly half of the British forces 
fell under the murderous fire of the enemy, and then, un- 
used to border warfare, they turned and fled in the utmost 
confusion. General Braddock lost his life, but Washing- 
ton, with cool valor, saved the British army from total de- 
struction. He was in the most exposed and dangerous part 
of the defile; two horses were shot under him and four bul- 
lets tore through his coat, but he seemed to bear a charmed 




Washington at Fort Duquesne. 



27 



28 Mililanj lie roes of the United States. 

life. Eallying a few of the provincials, he placed them be- 
hind trees, and when the Indians rnshed from their places 
of concealment to scalp the dead and tomahawk the dying, 
they were greeted with such a deadly fire that the shattered 
army was able to beat a hasty retreat. 

Washington's health was now impaired by active warfare 
against the Indians, who were a constant menace to the 
settlements, and he retired from the service in 1759. In 
the same year he married Mrs. Martha Cnstis, a beautiful 
and wealthy young widow, and retired to his estate at 
Mount Vernon, leading the life of a rich planter, and be- 
coming a member of the Virginia Legislature. He always 
took a deep interest in public affairs. When the odious 
" Stamp Act " was inflicted upon the colonists, Washington 
discountenanced " the use of all British merchandise taxed 
by Parliament to raise a revenue in America." Other op- 
pressive measures followed, and when the first Continental 
Congress met in Philadelphia, Washington was a member 
of that immortal body, exhibiting the loftiest patriotism. 

AVashington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the 
American Armies on June 15, 1775. He reached the camp 
before Boston on July 2, and immediately demonstrated his 
great organizing genius in making an army out of the raw 
material he found there. Everything was in confusion. Men 
were lodged in tents and huts; provisions and powder were 
scarce. His subordinates hampered him by divided coun- 
sels. Almost his first offensive movement was to fortify 
Dorchester Heights, a line of hills to the southwest of Bos- 
ton. After a siege of eight months he compelled the Brit- 
ish to leave Boston, and he then moved his army to New 
York. At this point he was attacked by a British army 




The Declaration of Independence Eead to the Army. 



29 



oO Miliianj Heroes of the United States. 

niucli larger than his own, commanded by Sir Henry Clin- 
ton. The battle of Long Island, near Brooklyn, was 
fought on August 27, 1776, and Washington was de- 
feated. Obliged to give up New York to the enemy, he 
fought and lost the battle of White Plains, and then re- 
treated through New Jersey, pursued by General Cornwal- 
lis. By heavy marching, Washington reached the Dela- 
ware River a few hours before Cornwallis, and, crowding 
his men into as few boats as possible, he began the perilous 
voyage to the Pennsylvania side. The battle with the 
storm that night was fiercer than a battle with the British 
would have been. Through snow and sleet and floating ice 
the half-starved, scantily-clad remnant of the Continental 
army fought their way and landed in Pennsylvania. On 
the Christmas morning following, he recrossed the river 
and fell upon the British army at Trenton, in the midst 
of their Christmas revelry, and took over a thousand pris- 
oners. He recrossed the Delaware that night. 

On the morning of January 3, 1777, Washington again 
crossed the Delaware and attacked the British at Prince- 
ton, compelling them to retreat. This battle was a decided 
victory for the Americans, but, owing to the condition of 
his army, scantily supplied with food, poorly clad, often 
barefooted, Washington was unable to follow up the vic- 
tory as he wished, and so went into winter quarters. On 
September 11, Washington was defeated at the battle of 
Brandywine, and the British took Philadelphia. He was 
again defeated at Germantown, and afterwards wintered at 
Valley Forge, where the army suffered great privations. 
In June, 1778, the British retreated from Philadelphia, 
and the battle of Monmouth followed on June 28, with 




o 



32 



Military Heroes of the United States. 



the result that the British retreated after a hotly contested 
engagement. Washington did not participate in any great 
battles during 1779 and 1780, but in 1781 he besieged 




Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. The British surren- 
dered on October 19, 1781, and this act destroyed the last 
hope of England's ever being able to subdue America. In 



George WasMngtoii. 



33 



ISTovember, 1783, Great Britain acknowledged without re- 
serve the independence of the United States. 

Throughout the war 
the labors of Washington 
were incessant . He lost 
more battles than he won, 
but through his untiring 
efforts, his self-sacrifice 
and perseyerance, he won 




Washington luaugurated President. 



34 



Military Heroes of the United States. 



the love and respect of all Americans, and when the colonies 
became free and independent he was acclaimed as the 
Father of his Country. For eight weary, toilsome, suffer- 
ing years he held the command of the patriot forces, tak- 
ing leave of the army on December 4, 1783, and retiring 
to private life. When the confederacy of states was 
formed into a nation, he was the unanimous choice for its 
first President, and wisely directed its affairs for two terms 
of four years each. In 1796 he sent a farewell address to 
Congress and refused another re-election. Again he retired 
to Mount Vernon, but when war with France was imminent 
he was called to be again Commander-in-Chief of the army. 
He died at Mount A^ernon on December 14, 1799, before 
the French question was settled, after an illness of two 
days. 




Washington's Houae, Mount Vernon. 




35 



3G Military Heroes of the United States. 



ISRAEL PUTNAM. 

ISRAEL rUTNAM, one of the best-known generals of 
the Kevolution, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, 
January 7, 1718., He grew up a plain, sturdy far- 
mer's boy, fond of athletic sports and excelling in all vig- 
orous pastimes. A resolute courage was one of the most 
striking traits in his character, and it is related of him that 
he once administered a sound thrashing to a Boston boy 
who ridiculed him as a rustic. Putnam married early in 
life, and in 181-0 became a farmer in the town of Pomfret, 
Connecticut, following this occupation for some fifteen 
years. It was during this period that he had his famous 
adventure with a wolf. It seems that this wolf committed 
depredations on the sheep in that neighborhood, and some 
of the farmers declared that it must be bewitched, for it 
had escaped them so many times. One morning, in winter, 
Putnam found two of his sheep killed, and a path in the 
snow which marked the way the wolf had gone. Getting 
his gun he followed the trail to a dark cave in the moun- 
tains. He explored the cave, and finding it deep he went 
for assistance, returning with a party of neighbors and a 
rope. Putnam tied the rope about his waist, and, with his 
gun in one hand and a torch in the other, was lowered into 
the darkness. Peaching solid ground he saw in a corner a 
pair of gleaming eyes and a row of glistening teeth. The 
beast rushed at him, but he did not flinch. He killed the 




General Israel Putnam. 



37 



38 MU'danj Heroes of the IJnUed States. 

wolf with one shot, and was tlien drawn out of the cave by 
liis friends. 

When the French and Indian war broke out, Putnam 
was given a company of Connecticut troops. He was then 
thirty-six years of age, strong and fearless, delighting in a 
life of activity and danger. He was an invaluable ranger, 
or scout, and passed through many exciting adventures. 
At one time a fire broke out in Fort Edward, and the mag- 
azine was in danger. Putnam, who was stationed at no 
great distance from the fort, hurried to the scene. He 
sprang onto the roof of the burning building and poured 
water onto the flames as fast as it could be passed to him 
from the ground below. His mittens w-ere burned from 
his hands, but a fresh pair was handed to him and he 
worked on until the structure fell in ruins. Then for more 
than an hour he continued to pour water onto the blazing 
mass, until the last spark was extinguished and the maga- 
zine, containing three hundred barrels of powder, was 
saved. Putnam's injuries were so severe that he was in- 
capacitated for service for several weeks. After several 
hair-breadth escapes from the Indians, who had come to re- 
gard him as specially favored by their " Great Spirit," Put- 
nam was captured by a band of Indians led by a French 
officer. He was tied to a tree and subjected to various 
tortures, and at last fagots of wood w^ere piled around him 
and lighted. In a few moments he w^ould have perished, 
but the French officer in command of the Indians rescued 
him. AiteT a term of imprisonment an exchange of pris- 
oners was affected and Putnam returned home. His next 
military service was in the war between England and Spain, 
in 1759, W'hen he commanded a Connecticut regiment and 
assisted in the siege of Havana. 



4<^ 




40 Military Heroes of the United States. 

After this war Piitnam a<iain retired to liis farm and was 
plowing in the field when the news that patriot blood had 
been spilled at Lexington reached him. Without stopping 
to change his clotlies, he mounted a horse and set off for 
the camp before Boston, leaving his plow in the field. The 
state of Connecticut made him a brigadier-general, and he 
threw himself into the patriot cause with all his resolution 
and courage. lie participated in the battle of Bunker 
Hill, and after the evacuation of ])Oston by the British was 
placed in command of the city. Later he was in command 
of the American army at New York, and when that city 
was invested by the British he contrived to get his forces 
away in safety. Still later Wasliington placed him in com- 
mand of Philadelphia and afterwards he operated in New 
Jersey, where his strategy and skill enabled him to success- 
fully oppose large bodies of British troops. 

In 1777, Putnam was defending Stamford. He had only 
one hundred and fifty militia-men and two old cannon. 
He was attacked by fifteen hundred British soldiers, but 
for a long time defended himself and kept the red-coats at 
bay. Finding, at last, that he must inevitably be overpow- 
ered by the force against him, he ordered his men to re- 
treat into a neighboring swamp. He was the last man to 
leave the field, and being closely followed by British horse- 
men, he turned in the direction of " Breakneck Stairs," 
as they were called. These were one hundred steps cut in 
the solid rock in the hillside, and were used by the country 
people ascending the hill to go to church. Giving his 
horse the rein, he dashed down the steps at full speed. 
None of his pursuers dared follow him. Their shots flew 
about him, but he made the descent in safety, receiving 
no other injury than a bullet hole through his hat. 



Israel Putnam. 



41 



At another time, Putnam captured a Tory spy and sen- 
tenced him to be executed. Sir Henry Clinton, the British 
commander, sent a flag of truce to Putnam's camp, and 
claimed the man as a British soldier. Putnam's reply to 
the demand was: "Edmund Palmer, an officer in the 
enemy's service, was taken as a spy, lurking within our 
lines. He has been tried as a spy, condemned as a spy, 
and shall be executed as a spy, and the flag is ordered to 
depart immediately. P.S. He has been accordingly exe- 
cuted." 

Putnam's military service continued until he was stricken 
with paralysis, in 1779. The old hero never recovered 
from this attack, but his death did 
not occur until May 19, 1790. He 
was buried with military honors, and 
remembered as a brave and noble man 
and a devoted patriot. 




42 Military Heroes of the United States. 



NATHAN HALE. 

l^TATHAN HALE, the young martyr, patriot and 
J^ hero, was born in Coventry, Connecticut, June 6, 
1755. His father was Kichard Hale, a descendant 
of one Robert Hale, who settled in Massachusetts in 1632. 
As an infant, Nathan was feeble, but as he advanced in 
years he developed into a roljust child; sweet tempered 
and possessed of many graces of person. He loved out-of- 
door sports and excelled in all athletic games. He was 
brought up strictly, being taught to observe the Chris- 
tian Sabbath and to reverence ministers and magistrates. 
His parents destined him for the ministry, and when but 
sixteen years of age he entered Yale College. He gradu- 
ated from this institution in 1773 Adth the highest honors. 
His personal appearance is described as being notable. 

'' He was almost six feet in height, perfectly propor- 
tioned, and in figure and deportment he was the most 
manly man I ever met," is the testimony of one who knew 
him well. His chest was broad; his muscles were firm; 
his face wore a most benign expression; his complexion 
was roseate; his eyes were light blue and beamed ^vith in- 
telligence; his hair was soft and light brown in color; and 
his speech was rather low, sweet, and musical. His per- 
sonal beauty and grace of manner were most charming. 

After graduating from college, Hale became a school 
teacher at East Haddam, Connecticut, and then became an 



Nathan Hale. 



43 



instructor in a 
high-grade gram- 
mar school at 
New London, in 
the same state. 
Here he made 
many loving 
friends, and 
moved in the best 
society. He was 
betrothed to a 
beautiful girl 
named Alice 
Adams, who was 
one of his pupils . 
His orderly life 
was interrupted 
by the news of 
bloodshed at Lex- 
ington and Con- 
cord, and he em- 
braced the patriot 
cause at once . 
' ' Let us march 
immediately and 
never lay down 
our arms until we 
have obtained 
our independ- 
ence!" were his 
words to those 
who assembled at 
the hastily called 
town meeting:. 




44 Military Heroes of the United States. 

A'oliintecrs were enrolled that night and TTale was 
among thein. The next day he bade farewell to his 
pnpils and started for the patriot camp before Bos- 
ton. Later Hale became a lieutenant, and participated 
in the siege of Boston. He was then made a cap- 
tain and accompanied the American army to New York. 
While there he performed a hazardous feat. With a boat's 
crew, he surprised a British supply vessel, drove the crew 
below decks and brought the prize to the city, where her 
cargo was distributed among the hungry soldiers of the 
army. 

After the Americans were defeated at Long Island, 
Washington was informed that the British intended to 
make an advance up the river. It was important to decide 
whether the city of New York should be defended or aban- 
doned. It became necessary to send a competent person, 
in disguise, into the British lines to learn the intentions 
of the enemy. A number of officers were called together, 
the hazardous nature of the undertaking was explained, 
and a volunteer was called for. While the conference was 
going on. Hale entered, bearing the marks of recent illness, 
and exclaimed, "I will undertake it!" His friends en- 
deavored to dissuade him, but he was not to be turned from 
his purpose. He knew that if he was caught his death 
would be that of a spy, yet he said: "I wish to be useful; 
and every kind of service necessary for the public good be- 
comes honorable by being necessary. If the exigencies of 
my country demand a peculiar service, its claims to the 
performance of that service are imperious." 

Washington personally gave him his instructions and 
he set out on his perilous mission. In the dress of a 



Nathan Hale. 45 

citizen, and b)^ representing himself as a ^^ schoolmas- 
ter and a loyalist disgusted with the rebel cause," he 
visited the British camp, made plans of the fortifica- 
tions, and obtained the information he sought for. On 
his way back, he was arrested while looking for his 
friends, who were to meet him with a boat. He was 
taken on board a British ship, where he was stripped 
and searched. The plans of the fortifications were 
found in his shoes, where he had secreted them, and then 
he was taken to General Howe's headquarters and confined 
in a greenhouse belonging to the mansion. This was on 
Saturday night, September 21. Hale accepted his fate 
like a man and a true patriot. He frankly told his rank 
and the purpose for which he entered the British lines. 
Early on the following day he was turned over to William 
Cunningham, the provost-marshal of New York, who 
treated him with the greatest barbarity and heaped in- 
sults uj)on him. His last hours were made as miserable as 
the harshness of his jailor could make them. He asked for 
a chaplain and then for a Bible. Both requests were de- 
nied. He wrote letters to friends and relatives, and to his 
betrothed, but instead of sending them, Cunningham first 
read them and then tore them up before the eyes of the 
young hero. When the sun rose, Hale was led from his 
prison and executed. 

An excellent statue has been erected in IN'ew York city, 
on the spot where the martyred patriot stood for the last 
time. His arms are bound behind his back; but with 
throat bare and head erect, he seems almost repeating again 
his last words: — " I regret that I have only one life to give 
to my country!" 



46 Military Heroes of the United States. 



ETHAN ALLEN. 

E''r]L\X ALLKX, one of the best known figures in the 
war of the Eevolution, was born on January 10, 
1T37, in Litclifield, Connecticut. Very little is 
known of his early life, except that he was one of a large 
family of children and grew up to be a sturdy, indei)endent 
man and an earnest advocate of liberty. In 1772, we hear 
of him residing in Bennington, Vermont, a trusted leader 
of the " Green ^lountain lioys," as the bold mountaineers 
of that state were termed at that time. He also repre- 
sented them in presenting their claims to certain land 
grants to which they laid claim. These cases were decided 
at Albany, and were against Allen's clients, who immedi- 
ately determined to hold their lands by force. Soon they 
were in constant warfare with the royal officers who came 
to evict them, and several of these sheriffs were whipped by 
the settlers. The Green ^lountain Boys banded together 
to resist the injustice of the crown, and in Allen they found 
a determined and resourceful leader. Finally a price was 
put upon his head by Governor Tryon, but Allen continued 
in what he considered was his line of duty, acting only on 
the defensive, however. ^Matters were in this condition 
when news of the massacre at Lexington reached these 
hardy men, and abandoning their private wrongs, they set 
out to play their part in the contest for liberty. 

Soon a plan for the capture of Fort Ticonderoga was on 
foot, as this was a point of great strategic importance. 




Ethan Allen. 



48 Militanj Heroes of ihe United Siafes. 

Men from Connecticut and ^lassacliiisetts met at Benning- 
ton, and joined Colonel Allen and his Green Mountain 
Boys. Allen was appointed commander of the expedition, 
which comprised some two hundred and thirty men. On 
the morning of May 10, 1775, eighty-three men had been 
taken across the lake and landed near the fort. Great 
difliculty had been experienced in procuring boats, and as 
day was breaking, Allen did not dare to wait for more men 
to cross before making the attack. He addressed his men 
and told them of the hazardous nature of the undertaking, 
but every one of them volunteered to attack at once. A 
sentry snapped his piece at Allen and then fled into the 
fort, whence the Americans followed him. Another sen- 
try made a pass at one of Allen's officers, but Allen 
wounded him, and he cried for quarter. Then Allen com- 
pelled him to tell where the commander of the fort, Cap- 
tain De la Place, slept, and when he reached the -room, 
which was in the second story, he called loudly to that 
officer to come forth instantly or he would sacrifice the en- 
tire garrison. Soon Captain De la Place appeared only 
partially dressed. x\llen ordered him to deliver the fort 
instantly. The captain asked by what authority he de- 
manded it and Allen replied: "In the name of the Great 
Jehovah and the Continental Congress." De la Place tried 
to parley, but Allen waved his sword over his head and 
again demanded the surrender of the garrison. The Brit- 
ish commander complied and ordered his men to be pa- 
raded ^nthout arms, and so the famous Fort Ticonderoga 
fell into the hands of the brave Green Mountain Boys. 

A few days later, Crown Point was captured by Seth 
Warner, who was sent there by Allen for that purpose. 



Ethan Allen. 



49 



Benedict Arnold, who was then an earnest and patriotic 
American, was to have had command of the expedition 
against Ticonderoga, but the Green Mountain Boys would 
have no leader but Allen. Arnold submitted gracefully 
and went as a volunteer, marching side by side with Allen, 




Montreal. 

and entering the fort with him. After receiving pay for 
his men, and also permission to raise a new regiment, 
Allen joined General Schuyler as a volunteer, and was 
sent by that officer on a mission to Canada. He returned, 
and was raising a force of men to operate with General 
Montgomery, when he was induced to join a Major Brown 



60 Military Heroes of the United States. 

in an attack upon Montreal. Brown failcMl to appear at 
the api)ointecl time and place, and Allen and his handful of 
men were cai)tiired and taken before Colonel Preseott, 
who inquired if lie was the man who took Tieonderoga. 
Allen replied that he was. Preseott broke into a terrible 
rage and ordered him bound hand and foot on the Gaspee. 
To Allen's complaints of the brutality of this treatment 
Preseott turned a deaf ear. At last Allen was taken to 
England, and so many people went to see the hero of 
Tieonderoga that he became quite a distinguished pris- 
oner. Allen was exchanged for a Lieutenant-Colonel 
Campbell, and his captivity of two and a half years was 
over. 

After reporting to General Washington, at Valley Forge, 
Allen returned to his Green Mountain home, where he 
was enthusiastically received. Congress voted him the 
pay of a lieutenant-colonel for the time of his imprison- 
ment, and made him a brevet-colonel in the Continental 
army. Allen now renewed his efforts in behalf of the in- 
dependence of Vermont, and was made a general of militia 
by the people of that state, ^^^^en the independence of 
Vermont became a fact, General Allen became a member 
of the state Assembly. 

Many anecdotes illustrating the strong points of Allen's 
nature have been related. The following is one of the'" : 

, " On one occasion, an individual to whom he was in- 
debted commenced a suit against him. Allen, being un- 
able to pay the debt, employed a lawyer to have the execu- 
tion of legal processes against him postponed for a short 
period. As an easy measure to effect this and throw the 
case over to the next session of the court, the lawyer 



Ethan Allen, 51 

denied the genuineness of the signature. Allen, who was 
present, stepped angrily forward, and exclaimed to his 
astonished counsel: ^ Sir, I did not employ you to come 
here and lie! I wish you to tell the truth. The note is a 
good one — the signature is mine; all I want is for the 
court to grant me sufficient time to make the payment.^ 
It is needless to add that the plaintiff acceded to his 
wishes.^' 

After the capture of Ticonderoga, the pastor of a church 
in Bennington — a Rev. Mr. Dewey — preached a sermon on 
Allen's exploit, and in his prayer thanked the Lord for 
the victory. Allen was present at the service and was 
much pleased, but as the preacher continued his thanks- 
giving, he called out: 

" Parson Dewey!" 

The preacher prayed on, not heeding the interruption. 

Allen exclaimed still louder: 

" Parson Dewey!" 

Xo response. At last Allen was exasperated, and 
sprang to his feet, while he fairly roared out, for the third 
time: 

" Parson Dewey!" 

At last the praying clergyman opened his eyes and 
gazed in astonishment at Allen. Allen then said, with 
energy: 

'• Parson Dewey! please make mention of my being 
there." 

Vermont owes a great debt to Ethan Allen, and she has 
reared a statue in his memory, which stands in the State 
House at Montpelier. The old hero died on his farm, near 
Colchester, Vermont; on February 13, 1789. 



52 Military Heroes of the United States. 



JOHN STARK. 

JOHN STARK, an incorruptible patriot, was horn on 
August 28, 1728, at Londonderry, New Hamp- 
shire. His family was of Scotch extraction. When 
eight years of age the Stark family moved to Manchester, 
and for nearly twenty years young Stark led the life of a 
New England settler, varying farming with trapping and 
hunting. He was fond of adventure and possessed of an 
athletic frame capable of great endurance. It was during 
this period of his life that he set off on a hunting expe- 
dition, accompanied by his brother and two friends. The 
young men separated temporarily and John Stark was 
suddenly surrounded and seized by Indians. The In- 
dians, knowing that he had companions, asked Stark 
where they were. He gave the wrong direction, and 
for a time the savages were baffled, but they after- 
wards came upon the remainder of the party. One 
they quickly made a prisoner and then ordered Stark 
to hail the others, who were in a boat, and order them 
to come ashore. Instead, Stark warned them of their 
danger, and when the Indians fired upon them he struck 
up their guns and diverted their aim. Twice he did this, 
but one of the young men was killed. Stark then called 
to the one who was left to fly for his life, and he did so 
and escaped. This was Stark's brother. Enraged by their 
failure to capture the entire party, the Indians fell on 
Stark and beat him terribly. 




John Stark. 53 



54 Military Heroes of the United States. 

At the Indian camp Stark and his friend were com- 
pelled to rnn the gauntlet. During this ordeal Eastman 
barely escaped with his life; hut Stark did hetter, for he 
snatched a clnb from one of his tormentors and cleared a 
path for himself as he ran. This raised him in the estima- 
tion of his captors, and later, when he threw his hoe into 
the river and refused to work for them, they adopted him 
into their tribe. lie was eventually ransomed, as was his 
companion, ])ut the ]irice put upon each showed that the 
Indians lield them at a different valuation, as they re- 
quired one hundred and three dollars for Stark, while for 
Eastman they accepted sixty dollars. 

Stark's first military service w^as in the French and 
Indian war. He served in a cor])s of Eangers as a lieuten- 
ant. Stark was one of an expedition under Major Rogers, 
fitted out to operate around Lake Cham plain. Their march 
was partly on the ice of the lake and partly through the 
snow on the shore. They were suddenly attacked, and the 
enemy made terrible havoc in their ranks. Stark held 
them at bay until that portion of the band immediately 
under Rogers rallied. Then the little liand of Americans 
fought on through the winter's afternoon. Stark was 
wounded in the wrist, and a bullet shattered the lock of 
his gun. He wrenched another weapon from tlie grasp of 
a dying Frenchman, and fought on until the enemy with- 
drew as darkness came on. All night the weary line 
of Americans dragged through the woods, and when the 
w^ounded could go no further Stark, with two companions, 
marched forty miles to get aid, accomplishing the feat on 
snow shoes. Without waiting for rest, he at once turned 
back and covered the ground again. Reaching his com- 



56 Military Heroes of ilie United States. 

rades, he placed tlie wounded on sleds and started with 
them for Fort William Henry, the point of safety, thus 
covering one hundred and twenty miles on snow shoes, in 
the dead of winter, in less than forty hours, and this after 
fighting a superior force for hours. For this feat of en- 
durance, and for the humanity displayed in it, Stark was 
made a captain. 

After some service under Lord Howe, Stark returned 
home and married. Shortly afterwards he was employed 
in road making, and then again retired to private life, 
where he remained until the echoes of Concord and Lex- 
ington startled him from his peaceful occupations. Then 
he entered heart and soul into the patriot cause, and be- 
came colonel of a regiment. He was stationed at Medford, 
but joined the patriots at Bunker Hill during the hottest 
of the tight, leading his sturdy New Flampshire boys across 
Charlestown neck through a merciless British fire. Be- 
hind the historic rail-fence filled with hay, these brave 
men fought with the steadiness of veterans, and were 
among the last to leave the field. 

A characteristic anecdote is told of Stark upon his re- 
turn to ^ledford after the battle of Bunker Hill. It seems 
that the paymaster there did not like Stark and refused 
to pay the men, alleging that the pay-rolls were not correct. 
He did this on three occasions, and then the men appealed 
to their leader. Stark said: "The regiment has made 
him three visits; he shall now make them one in return." 
A guard was sent and it brought the paymaster into 
camp, the drums and fifes playing the " Eogue's March." 

Late in 1776, Stark and his men were sent to reinforce 



John StarJc. 57 

Washington, and before the battle of Trenton the bhmt 
old soldier told Washington: 

"You have depended a long time on spades and pick- 
axes, but if yon wish ever to establish the independence of 
the country, you must rely on firearms/*' 

Washington replied: 

" To-morrow we march on Trenton, and I have ap- 
pointed you to command the advance guard of the right 
wing." 

After the battle of Princeton, in which he participated, 
Stark went to ^ew Hampshire and recruited his regiment. 
Being justly incensed at the promotion of junior officers, 
while he was left out of the list, he retired from the army, 
declaring that an officer who would tamely submit to such 
an indignity was not fit to be trusted. He lost none of his 
patriotism, however, and later accepted the command of 
state troops, refusing to fight under the orders of Con- 
gress. Men flocked from all directions to fight under his 
leadership, and he was ordered to place his command un- 
der general orders; but he stubbornly refused to do this, 
and in August, 1777, marched to encounter the enemy, 
who was marching through Yerniont. On August 16, he 
fought and won the famous battle of Bennington. The 
British were intrenched upon a line, and when Stark saw 
them he turned to his troops with the now historic remark: 

" See there, men! there are the red-coats. Before night 
they are ours, or Molly Stark's a widow." 

The battle began with a terrible fire of musketry, but 
the militia fought with the precision of veterans, 
routed the British horse and foot soldiers, streamed over 
the breastworks and won the gallant field. 



58 Military Heroes of ihe United States. 

Stark continued in the militia service for some time. 
Then Congress gave him a vote of thanks for the victory 
at Bennington and a commission as brigadier-general. He 
served through the war and then retired to his farm. He 
lived to the ripe age of ninety-four years, and was buried 
with military honors. 



NATHANIEL GREENE. 

"Vr ^THANIEL GREENE was born in Warwick, Rhode 
±\ Island, on May 27, 1742. His father was a 
Quaker preacher, and his son was early instructed 
in the tenets of that sect. When old enough to assist in 
the labors of the farm, the boy was put to work, clad in 
the sober garb affected by the Quakers. After a time he 
was taken from farm work and placed at a forge owned 
by his father. But whether in the fields or at the anvil, 
Greene expended a good deal of his youthful energy in 
athletic sports and became very fond of dancing. In order 
to indulge in this pastime, he would steal out of the house 
after the family were asleep; but on one occasion he 
returned from a ball at an early hour in the morning to 
find his father waiting for him with a horsewhip. He had 
just time to slip some shingles under his coat from a con- 
venient pile, and in the subsequent chastisement found the 
punishment much mitigated for his resort to this novel 
armor. 

Books soon claimed the attention of the young Quaker, 




Nathaniel Greene. 



60 21 ill tar ij Heroes of the United States, 

and while ciiga^^t'd at his labors he found time to master 
the difficult problems of Euclid without assistance; to 
read Horace and Caesar, and even JJlackstone. At twenty 
years of age he was able to take part in the political dis- 
cussions of the day. When war clouds gathered about the 
colonies he threw away his Quaker prejudices and studied 
military science. For this, the people in whose faith he 
was born took him to account, but he remained firm to 
his convictions and joined an independent military com- 
pany. He was a member of the General Assembly of 
Ehode Island in 1770. Four years later he married. 

After Lexington, Greene started for Boston, and was 
soon made a major-general of Ehode Island troops. These 
he put into good condition, and after the battle of Bunker 
Hill joined Washington at Cambridge. Washington sent 
him to occupy Long Island, but falling sick, Putnam was 
given charge of the operations there. Greene participated 
in the battle of Harlem Heights, and was with Washing- 
ton in his retreat through New Jersey. He commanded a 
division at the battle of Trenton, and also at Princeton, 
exhibiting in both engagements perfect coolness and reso- 
lution. At Brandy wine, Greene was at the rear of the 
American army, but feeling that his men were needed at 
the front, he marched them four miles in forty-nine min- 
utes, and arrived in time to check the scattering fugi- 
tives and make a bold stand with his own men. 

General Greene commanded a division of the American 
army at the Battle of Germantown. His aide-de-camp. 
Major Burnet, w^ore his hair in a queue in the old-fashioned 
style. While the battle was at its height the Major's queue 
was shot away by a musket ball, "Don't be in a hurry, 



Nathaniel Greene. 



61 



Major" said Greene; "just dismount and get that long 
queue." It was but a few minutes later that another shot 
from the enemy cut away a large powdered curl from Gen- 




Battle of Cowpens. 

eral Greeners forehead. The British Avere in hot pursuit 
of the Americans at this moment^ but Major Burnet said: 
" Don't be in a hurry, General; just dismount and get that 



C2 Military Heroes of the United States. 

lonf? curl." The advice was not taken, however. Greene 
performed splendid services at Germantown, and then 
with the troops went into winter quarters at Valley Forge, 
where he was made Quartermaster-General, and did much 
to reorganize the army. 

Greene served at Monmouth witli his usual gallantry 
and was then sent to Rhode Island to cooperate with La- 
fayette and Sullivan. From Kliode Island, Greene was sent 
to New Jersey and heroically defended Springfield in that 
state. He presided at the court-martial which tried and 
condemned the unfortunate Major Andre, and later was 
in command at West Point. From that position he was 
sent south to retrieve, if possible, the reverses of the 
patiiot cause in that section, lie found an army without 
money, without stores, destitute of clothing, of arms, of 
everything necessary for an effective force. Of two thou- 
sand men barely eight hundred were fit for service; but 
his officers were the bravest of the brave and patriots to 
the core. Greene employed every possible moment in 
drilling his troops, and to gain time for this sent out de- 
tacliments to annoy and harrass the enemy without bring- 
ing on a general engagement. He led Cornwallis a terrible 
chase, and then came the battle of Cowpens, where Wash- 
ington cut Tarleton's crack dragoons to pieces, and Mor- 
gan's militia drove the British infantry before them, like 
veterans. Morgan was obliged to retreat afterthe battlewas 
gained, for he could not cope with Cornwallis's army, which 
was close upon him. That general strained every nerve to 
cut him off, but failing in this endeavored to prevent his 
junction Avith Greene. In this he also failed, and then 
Greene took up his memorable and masterly retreat 



NatJianiel Greene. 63 

tlirough the Carolinas^ in which he out-generaled the Brit- 
ish commander. Through rain and mud, Greene fled for 
twenty days, covering two hundred and fifty miles. He 
crossed three large rivers, and baffled his adversary at every 
point, finally bringing his army to a place of safety and 
covering his own name with renown. 

At Gnilford Court House, Greene gave battle to Corn- 
wallis, but was eventually compelled to retreat after in- 
fiicting a terrible loss on the enemy. As soon as Cornwallis 
could collect his wounded, he, too, fearing that his victory 
would be dearly bought if he remained on the field, fled 
rapidly from the scene of the engagement, having suffered 
a loss of six hundred killed and wounded. Greene sent a 
detachment of cavalry to hang on the rear of the British 
army, and himself pursued them towards Wilmington. 
Bat at length his army began to murmur at the hardships 
they were compelled to undergo. The term of enlistment 
of many had expired; Greene could not supply them with 
provisions, and so, after thanking them for their bravery, 
he saw them depart for their own homes. 

With an army reduced to one-third of its size, Greene 
now led it into South Carolina and fought the battle of 
Hobkirk^s Hill, which he lost through no fault of his own, 
and then moved on to the post known as Ninety-six. He 
made a noble assault on the position, but was unable to 
carry it. The British evacuated it, however, shortly after- 
wards. Through all these reverses Greene's spirit was un- 
daunted. He fought the enemy and harrassed it con- 
tinually. After an engagement he would rest his troops 
and then put them in motion again. In his own words: 
"We mil seek the enemy wherever we can find them. 



64 Militanj Heroes of the United States. 

unless they take refuge within the gates of Oliarleston." 
He shared' tlie hardships of his men, and on the night be- 
fore the battle of Eutaw Springs, as on many other occa- 
sions, he slept on the ground in the midst of his soldiers. 

Greene won the battle of Eutaw Springs, but he suffered 
severe losses. Both armies buried their dead under a flag 
of truce, and then the sickly season set in, and he moved 
his army to the Santee hills. After the surrender of Corn- 
wallis, Greene boldly took the field again, and finally drove 
the British into Charleston. Closer and closer he drew his 
linos about the city, and in spite of the terrible condition 
of his own army, who were dying by scores m the scorch- 
ing sun, destitute of clothing and provisions, he held on 
until the British evacuated the city. Then Greene eii- 
tered and received an ovation from the multitudes who 
knew the privations that he and his army had passed 

^'"'^fter'the peace General Greene made his home at Mul- 
berry Grove, Georgia, where he died on June 19, 1<86. 



Anthony Wayne, 65 



ANTHONY WAYNE. 

ANTHONY WAYNE, a brilliant officer of the Eevo- 
lution, and afterwards commander-in-cliief of the 
armies of the United States, was born in Chester 
County, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1745. His early educa- 
tion was at the hands of a relative, and afterwards at the 
Philadelphia Academy, where he appears to have distin- 
guished himself in mathematics. It is also said of him 
that he had a liking for military studies as well. Leaving 
school at seventeen years of age, he became a farmer and 
land-surveyor, and was married five years later. 

AAHien the colonies grew restive under the oppressive 
measures of Great Britain, Wayne openly declared that 
hostilities would follow, and immediately began to raise 
volunteers for the war which he deemed inevitable. Con- 
gress made him a colonel when his prediction became true, 
and his first service was in Canada. He was wounded at 
Three Elvers, and then commanded at Fort Tieonderoga, 
joining Washington in New Jersey in 1777. He was now 
a brigadier-general, and had been complimented for dis- 
tinguished bravery and skill. 

Wayne bore a conspicuous part at Brandywine, and at 
Germantown his horse was shot under him. In this last 
battle he covered the retreat of the Americans. Subse- 
quently, at Valley Forge, Wayne commanded a foraging 
expedition and brought much relief to the destitute army 
in the shape of cattle and provisions of various kinds. At 
5 



no Military Heroes of the United States. 

Monmouth, Wayne distinguished himself by his bravery, 
and was commended by Washington in his official letter 
to Congress. 

The storming of Stony Point, on the Hudson River, 
was assigned to General Wayne, and he successfully car- 
ried the position by assault, shortly after midnight of July 
15, 1779. Its natural defenses had been strengthened, and, 
with its strong garrison, was regarded as almost impregna- 
ble. Wayne divided his forces into two columns, and each 
man at the same time was ordered " to fix a piece of white 
paper in the most conspicuous part of his hat or cap to 
distinguish him from the enemy," and a watchword, " The 
fort's our own," was communicated to each, with orders 
to give it " with repeated and loud voice when the works 
were forced, and not before." Scaling the parapet, and 
creeping through the embrasures on either side, the assail- 
ants raised the cry agreed upon, and drove the garrison be- 
fore them, notwithstanding the most desperate resistance 
was offered. While this terrible hand-to-hand contest was 
raging within the fort, Wayne, who had been wounded in 
the head by a musket ball, was lying near the spot where 
he fell; but when the enemy had surrendered, as it soon 
did, he was carried into the fort, "bleeding, but in tri- 
umph." Three hearty cheers from his victorious troops 
formed the salute under which the daring general was car- 
ried into the fort to receive the submission of the garri- 
*son, and again " The fort's our own!" broke out in the in- 
spiration of the moment. 

In 1781, Wayne was with Lafayette in Virginia. Lafay- 
ette ordered him to attack the rear guard of Cornwallis's 
army, thinking the main body had passed over a river. 




Anthony Wayne. 



67 



68 Military Heroes of the United States. 

Wayne fell upon the British as directed, but found it to 
be the army itself. Grasping the situation, he made such 
a vigorous charge that Cornwallis thought the entire 
American army was upon him and began to prepare for a 
general engagement. Under cover of his movements 
Wayne was able to withdraw his troops, thus extricating 
them from a perilous position. 

After the surrender of Yorktown, Wayne joined General 
Greene and operated in Georgia, where the British out- 
numbered him three to one. But his indomitable spirit 
rose above every obstacle, and he drove the enemy from 
one point to another until he virtually wrested the state 
from the British. In speaking of this campaign, Wayne 
said : 

" The duty Ave have done in Georgia was more difficult 
than that imposed upon the children of Israel; they had 
only to make bricks without straw, but we have had pro- 
vision, forage, and almost every other apparatus of war to 
procure without money; boats, bridges, etc., to build with- 
out materials, except those taken from the stump; and 
what was more difficult than all — to make Whigs out of 
Tories. But this we have effected, and have wrested the 
country out of the hands of the enemy, with the exception 
only of the town of Savannah." 

Two tribes of Indian^ — the Choctaws and the Creeks — 
had been induced to join the British forces. Wayne fell 
upon and completely routed the former and then turned 
his attention to the Creeks. He instructed his men to 
rely entirely upon the bayonet and the sword, and led 
them to a defile through which the enemy must pass. 
Wayne and his men reached the pass at the same time 




The Fort's Our Own! 



70 Military Heroes of the United States. 

that the enemy entered it, and although outnumbered he 
fell upon them with such impetuosity that they fled before 
him. Later, the Creeks crept stealthily up to Wayne's 
camp and with a terrible war-whoop drove in his pickets. 
For a few moments all was terror and confusion, but 
Wayne rallied his men and led them against their foes. 
With his own hand he cut down a tall chief, who, in his 
death throes, fired at him, but missed his aim and killed 
Wayne's horse. The conflict was a short one, and soon the 
savages fled in dismay. Shortly afterwards the British 
evacuated Savannah and peace soon followed. 

Wayne was not allowed to rest in peace, however. An 
Indian war followed that of the Eevolution, and Wayne 
was made commander-in-chief of the army. He con- 
ducted operations so well that a long peace with the red 
men was effected. Wayne's death came while exercising 
the functions of an Indian Commissioner in what was then 
called the Northwest. He died on December 14, 1796, 
at Presque Isle, and was buried there, but later his remains 
were removed to his native county and a monument was 
erected to his memory. 

Wayne was one of the most popular men in the army, 
and was known the country over as " Mad Anthony." It 
is said that " this name was originally given by a witless 
fellow in the camp, who used always to take a circuit 
when he came near Wayne, and, shaking his head, mutter 
to himself, ^ Mad Anthony! mad Anthony!' It was so 
characteristic of Wayne, however, that the troops univer- 
sally adopted it." 



Francis Marion, 'i'l 



FRANCIS MARION. 

THEEE is perhaps more of romance in the career of 
Francis Marion; more of personal adventure and 
daring than in that of any other general of the Eevo- 
lution. He was born in 1732, at Winyah, Sonth Carolina. 
His ancestors were French Hngnenots, and from them he 
inherited a disposition that enabled him to serve his conn- 
try well in the honr of its need. 

Marion was a feeble, sickly child nntil he was abont 
twelve years o^ age. Then he began to take an interest in 
athletic pursuits, and soon acquired a frame capable of en- 
during the hardships of a settler's life. When fifteen 
years of age he went to sea, but was shipwrecked. He was 
rescued, however, and, thoroughly cured of a sea life, re- 
turned to his father's farm. His first military service was 
against the Indians. At one time he led thirty men against 
a band of Cherokees, losing twenty-one in the skirmish 
that ensued. 

When the Revolutionary War broke out Marion was a 
member of the Provincial Congress of South Carolina, and 
is described as being small in stature, with a swarthy, 
thoughtful face, and piercing black eyes. He immediately 
began to recruit men for the patriot cause, and being thor- 
oughly acquainted with military tactics soon had his men 
thoroughly drilled and disciplined. There was a magnet- 
ism about the man that few could resist, and it was es- 
teemed an honor to serve under his leadership. When the 



72 Military Heroes of the United States. 

British attacked Fort Moultrie, Marion and his men were 
part of the brave garrison, and the last shot from the fort 
is credited to Marion's own hand. After the British ships 
withdrew Marion remained in command of the fort. 

After the fall of Charleston, and with the British in 
possession of the surrounding country, Marion, after be- 
ing hunted from one place of concealment to another, with 
a handful of men joined General Gates. They were a sorry 
looking lot — their garments tattered and nondescript, 
their arms rusty, the horses presenting much the same ap- 
pearance as their riders. In 1780, Marion became the 
leader of a band of patriots, undisciplined, but brave, and 
also skilled in the use of firearms. He was commissioned 
a general by the Governor of South Carolina, and soon the 
little band of some thirty men was increased and became 
known as Marion's Brigade. Marion and his men then en- 
tered upon a career of toil and privation, but they became 
well disciplined and performed such daring deeds that 
they were feared alike by the British and the Tories. It 
became the highest honor to which a man could aspire to 
belong to Marion's band. Every man was a dead shot and 
a dashing rider, skilled in the use of the sabre. Marion led 
them to hiding places in the swamps and then emerged 
and struck heavy blows upon the enemy. His troop be- 
came a terror and a menace to the Tories in particular, 
but no plans to capture the " Swamp Fox," as they called 
him, were ever successful. 

Well-planned attempts on the part of the enemy to 
crush Marion utterly failed. He would make a descent 
upon a British camp or a Tory gathering, and then enter 
the swamps and lie concealed where his enemies did not 




Francis Marion. 



73 



'74l Military Heroes of the United States. 

dare to follow him. The fare of these brave men was of 
the rudest description. They had no money, and subsisted 
as best they could. Marion's principal camp was at Snow's 
Island, and there the hardy men who followed his fortunes 
rested in picturesque array when not engaged in active 
duty. The place was easily defended, and trusty rifles 
guarded every avenue of approach. There is a story of a 
young British officer who visited this camp to arrange for 
an exchange of prisoners. He was led to the camp blind- 
folded, and when the bandage was removed from his eyes 
he looked bewildered upon the scene. He saw^ the par- 
tisan soldiers resting beneath the tall pines, their horses 
tethered close by; he saw their leader, slight of stature, 
with none of the externals of a successful general, and 
could hardly believe that this was the hardy band whose 
very name filled the hearts of their enemies with terror. 
The business that brought him completed, dinner was 
served — sw^eet potatoes baked in the ashes and served upon 
pieces of bark. 

" Doubtless this is an accidental meal," said the officer; 
"you live better in general?" 

" No," was the reply; " we often fare much worse." 
" Then I hope at least you draw noble pay to compen- 
sate?" 

" 'Not a cent, sir," replied Marion; " not a cent." 
In telling this incident, upon his return to the British 
camp, the officer said: "What chance have we against 
such men?" It is related that he resigned his commission, 
and did not serve again throughout the war. 

It has been said of Marion that his only drink was vine- 
gar and water, mixed, and that: — 



Francis Marion. 



75 



^^ His favorite time for marching was with the setting 
sun, and then it was known that the march would con- 
tinue all night. Before striking any sudden blow he has 
been known to march sixty or seventy miles, taking no 




One of Marion's Men. 

other food in twenty-four hours than a meal of cold pota- 
toes and a draught of cold water. His scouts were out in 
all directions and at all hours. They were taught a pecu- 
liar and shrill whistle, which, at night would be heard at 



76 Military Heroes of flie United States. 

a. most astonishing distance. They did the doiihle duty of 
patrols and spies. They hovered about the posts of the 
enemy, croiicliing in the thickets or darting along the 
plain, picking up prisoners and information and spoils 
together." 

Marion successfully evaded every expedition sent to cap- 
ture him, but one British band penetrated his camp on 
Snow Island and destroyed it. Tliis greatly disheartened 
Marion, but his men followed his fortunes, even when they 
seemed to be at the lowest ebb. He now set out in pur- 
suit of Colonel Watson, a British officer who had been 
very active in dogging his footsteps, but Watson fled, and 
Marion, joining his forces to those of " Light Horse " 
Harry, invested Fort Watson. As neither party had 
cannon, Marion resorted to an expedient which proved 
successful. He ordered trees cut down and made into 
logs and these he piled up during the night, so that when 
daylight dawned he was able to send a shower of bullets 
into the garrison, which soon surrendered. Later, Marion 
joined General Greene and continued to render invaluable 
services to the country. He was constantly engaged in 
harassing the enemy. After Greene drove the enemy into 
Charleston, Clarion resumed his duties as a legislator, turn- 
ing over his brigade to Captain Horry, a trusted officer of 
his; but, learning that the British were bent upon dis- 
persing it in his absence, he took the field again and 
saved it. 

After the war Marion continued active in his legislative 
duties, and married a lady of about his own age. He died 
at the age of sixty-three, a pure and lofty patriot, holding 
country and liberty dearer than all things else in life. 



Hugh Mercer. 77 



HUGH MERCER 

HUGH MEECEE, a brigadier-general in the war of 
the Eevolution, was a Scotchman who emigrated 
to America ard made his home on the western 
frontier of Pennsylvania. We first hear of him in Pro- 
vincial affairs as a captain in the Indian wars of 1755. Of 
his earlier life we know very little, but he was in the army 
of Prince Charles Edward, and participated in the battle 
of Culloden. By profession he was a physician. He was 
so badly wounded at Braddock's defeat that he was unable 
to keep up with the demoralized British troops. Hidden 
behind a log he watched the savages scalping the dead and 
dispatching the wounded. He dragged himself to a stream 
of water, of which he drank, and then kept on the track of 
the retreating army as rapidly as his shattered shoulder 
would allow. When nearly exhausted by famine and the 
pain of his wound he succeeded in killing a rattlesnake. 
Skinning it with one hand, he devoured a portion of it 
raw, and so, feeding on the reptile from time to time, he 
managed to reach Fort Cumberland, more dead than alive. 
Mercer at one time commanded Fort Duquesne, and 
there made the acquaintance of Washington, who was then 
a young officer in the Provincial service. Later, when the 
colonists asserted their rights, and were fighting for their 
independence, Mercer joined the patriot army and was 
made a brigadier-general. His early services for his 



78 Military Heroes of the United States. 

adopted country were with Washington at New York, and 
the commander-in-chief found him in every way worthy 
of his confidence. lie accompanied Washington on the 
dreary retreat throngliont New Jersey, when a deep cloud 
of gloom hovered over the entire country; hut his belief 
that liberty would triumph remained unshaken. He was 
among the first to advocate an aggressive campaign 
against the British in New Jersey, "and became one of 
Washington's most valued advisers. 

When the battle of Princeton was fought Mercer led one 
of the attacking columns, and, throwing himself between 
the main body of the British troops and their reserves, 
brought about the action. A rapid march of eighteen 
miles brought Washington's army to the eastern skirts 
of Princeton on the morning of January 3, 1777. 
The contending armies being about equal in forces and ar- 
tillery, the ground was fiercely contested. The patriots 
were at first thrown into some confusion by the vigorous 
resistance they encountered, but by great personal exer- 
tions, in which his own life was recklessly exposed, Wash- 
ington rallied his men, and leading his raw troops to 
within thirty yards of the enemy, made a headlong charge. 
The British regiments broke and fled, unable to resist the 
terrible onslaught of such men. 

Mercer fought bravely, and when his horse was shot 
under him, continued to fight on foot against terrible odds. 
He was wounded, and when taken prisoner asked for hon- 
orable treatment. Instead, the Ijrutal British soldiers 
felled him to the earth and then ])lunged their bayonets 
into his body. Thinking him dead, they left him where 
he lay, but he was found and carried to a neighboring 




79 



80 Military Heroes of ihe United States. 

farmhoTise, bleeding from thirteen wounds. He lingered 
in agony for a few days, and then died, a martyr in the 
cause of liberty, with a prayer for his family and his coun- 
try upon his lips. 




Battle of Princeton. Death of Mercer. 



Richard Montgomery. 81 



EICHAED MONTGOMERY. 

RICHAED MONTGOMERY was born in Ireland, 
December 2, 1736, but emigrated to this country 
in 1772. At the age of eighteen years he was 
holding a commission in the British army, and later dis- 
tinguished himself at the siege of Louisburg, earning a 
lieutenantcy for his gallantry. Still later he served under 
Amherst; was present at the sieges of Montreal and Que- 
bec, and was made a captain for distinguished services 
against the French in the West Indies. Upon his arrival 
in America he settled near New York and married. It 
was not until after the battle of Bunker Hill that Mont- 
gomery really threw in his fortunes with the country of 
his adoption, although he had been a member of the first 
provincial convention of New York. 

When Congress voted in favor of the invasion of Canada, 
Montgomery, who had been made a brigadier-general, be- 
gan his military service for the colonies under General 
Schuyler. He was a man of great courage, and when 
Schuyler was prostrated by sickness, Montgomery tc^k 
command of the expedition. He quelled a serious mutiny 
among his troops, and then, being short of ammunition, at- 
tacked Fort Chambly and took it, obtaining a much needed 
supply in this way. Other successes followed, including 
the capture of Montreal. 

Arnold was then investing Quebec, but was in bad straits. 
6 



82 



Military Heroes of the United States. 



Montgomei7 inarched to his relief, making a toilsome 
march over frozen ground and through drifting snows. 
His troops encountered great hardships on the way, but 
Montgomery shared their privations and eventually brought 




Quebec. 



his undisciplined command to the walls of Quebec. The 
combined forces of Arnold and Montgomery could do little 
more than harrass the besieged. Their few cannon could 
make no impression on the walls of the city and their opera- 
tions were hampered by the ice and snow. The troops 




General Richard Montgomer5^ 



83 



84: MUitanj Heroes of tlie United States. 

were miserably clad for any climate, and in the rigors of a 
Canadian winter it was with difficulty that they could 
move their benumbed limbs, or serve the cannon, which 
were mounted upon blocks of ice. Small-pox broke out 
in the camp, and the army was on the verge of mutiny. 
With these conditions staring him in the face, Montgomery, 
who was in command of the combined forces, called a 
council of war at which it Avas decided to make an assault 
upon the fortifications. 

Before daylight on the last day of December, 1775, two 
officers were sent to make a feint against the upper town, 
while Montgomery and Arnold should storm the defenses 
of the lower town. The patriots set out in the dark and 
gloom of the winter morning, Montgomery at the heal 
of one column, while Arnold led the other — the forlorn 
hope. Success was with Montgomery at first, but huge 
masses of ice impeded the progress of his soldiers and gave 
the British time to recover from the panic into which they 
were thrown when the Americans surprised the first bat- 
tery. Struggling on through snow and ice, another bat- 
tery confronted the handful of l)rave souls. For an instant 
they seemed to hesitate. Waving his sword over his head, 
Montgomery shouted : " Men of N'ew York ! You will not 
fear to follow where your general leads — forward!" 

Montgomery fell at the first discharge from the British 
cannon, and seeing their leader stretched upon the snow, 
the troops recoiled and fled. 

Arnold intrepidly led his men against another battery, 
receiving a musket-ball in the leg, and Captain Morgan as- 
sumed command. Under his leadership, the battery was 
captured. It was still dark and he knew nothing of the 



Ricliard Montgomery. 85 

fate of Montgomery's column. After being slightly rein- 
forced, lie slionted, "Forward, my brave fellows," and 
dashed against a second battery. A detachment of British 
troops met the patriots here and a terrible conflict ensued. 
Morgan fought with desperation, but was forced to give 
way. He attempted to cut his way through his foes, but 
his numbers were too small and he was obliged to sur- 
render. 

Montgomery was but thirty-nine years of age when he 
gave his life for his country on the blood-stained snows be- 
fore Quebec. His career had been bright and promising 
and the country mourned his loss. Montgomery was buried 
by the British with the honors of war, but in 1818, the 
state of i^ew York removed his remains to New York city, 
and Congress erected a monument to his bravery and 
worth over them in the portico of St. Paul's Church. 



86 MUiianj Heroes of the United States. 



PHILIP SCHUYLER 

PHILIP SCHUYLER, a major-general in the Conti- 
nental army, and a close friend of Washington, was 
bom in 1733, in Albany, New York. He received 
a good education, and being proficient in mathematics, 
embraced the profession of a civil and military engineer. 
The beginning of the Revolution found him rich and pros- 
perous, but he cheerfully gave himself and his fortune to 
his country, and rendered incalculable aid to the cause of 
liberty and freedom. 

Schuyler was made a major-general and placed in com- 
mand of the army that invaded Canada. Falling seriously 
ill, he was compelled to relinquish the command to Mont- 
gomery, but upon his recovery, he conducted many diffi- 
cult military operations with uncommon skill. He became 
especially successful in raising men for the army and money 
for the needs of Congress, at one time giving his personal 
security for a large sum of money. His energy in these 
transactions procured him the ill will of many who did 
not recognize his incorruptible honesty, and this, with 
other causes, induced him to resign his commission. Con- 
gress, however, in spite of the slights it had put upon him, 
entreated him to recall his resignation, and he did so in the 
cause of liberty. 

WTiile Schuyler was in command of the army operating 
in the North, he made all possible efforts to obstruct the 




General Philip Schuyler. 



87 



88 Military Heroes of the United States. 

march of Burgoyne and his splendid army. He tore up 
bridges, cut down trees and destroyed navigation wher- 
ever possible. Consternation pervaded the country. Men, 
women and children fled before the oncoming British 
legions. Homes were deserted. Only the necessaries of 
life were taken. Mothers aroused their sons and sent them 
to face the foe. Then the battle of Oriskany was fought — 
a most bloody engagement — in which the Americans were 
victorious. Then Fort Schuyler was saved to the patriots. 
Schuyler planned and marched and fought with consum- 
mate ability, but just at the time wlien it seemed that he 
was to reap the reward of his exertions, he was superseded, 
and the command of the army given to General Horatio 
Gates. Schuyler had prepared the way for the disaster 
that befell Burgoyne eventually, but Gates was allowed to 
receive the credit, while the man who had planned the cam- 
paign and done the hard work was pushed aside. 

Schuyler witnessed the surrender of Burgoyne, but his 
patriotism was of so lofty a character that not a murmur 
escaped his lips when the plaudits of the nation were given 
to another instead of to him, to whom they rightfully be- 
longed. He made the Baroness Reidesel a guest at his own 
home after the surrender, and extended his hospitality to 
Burgoyne as well. Burgoyne had caused Schuyler's prop- 
erty at Saratoga to be burned, and this courtesy, coming 
after that action, caused him to say on one occasion to 
Schuyler: " You are too kind to me, who have done you so 
much injury." " Oh, that was the fate of war; pray think 
no more of it," was Schuyler's magnanimous reply. 

Later, General Schuyler w^as urged by Washington to 
resume the command of the army from which he had been 



90 Military Heroes of the United States. 

deposed, but he would not serve longer under the Congress 
which had humiliated him, and resigned from the service. 
He served his country, however, as a member of the New 
York Senate and as a member of Congress. Advancing 
age compelled his retirement from that body, however, and 
he died in November, 1804. One of his last acts was to 
give their freedom to all of his slaves. 



BENEDICT ARNOLD. 

BENEDICT ARNOLD, a major-general in the Conti- 
nental army, whose incredible daring and gallant 
behavior in battle dazzled the American people 
until his treason covered his brilliant career with infamy, 
was born on January 3, 1740, at Norwich, Connecticut. As 
a boy he was noted for his love of mischief, his daring and 
his cruelty. It is related of him that he delighted in rob- 
bing birds' nests in order to watch the distress of the 
parent birds, and that he would scatter broken glass in the 
paths which his companions were obliged to travel bare- 
footed. He received the best education the town afforded, 
and was then apprenticed to a druggist, from whom, how- 
ever, he ran away when he was sixteen years of age to be- 
come a soldier. His mother, a virtuous and pious woman, 
was able, through friends, to effect his release, but his dis- 
position soon induced him to run away again and join the 
army for the second time. Military discipline and garri- 




Benedict Arnold. 



91 



^2 Military Heroes of the United States. 

son life were too severe for liim, however, and he deserted 
and returned home. 

After serving his apprenticeship, Arnold engaged in the 
business of a druggist in New Haven. In this way he ac- 
quired considerable property, which he invested in ships 
and entered the West India trade. After a time he became 
bankrupt and resumed his old business as a druggist, at the 
same time holding a captain's commission in a militia 
company. When the news of Lexington and Concord 
reached Xew Haven, Arnold found sixty men who were 
willing to join the patriot army with him as a leader, and 
with this band he marched to Cambridge, where he was 
soon made a colonel. When Ethan Allen moved against 
Fort Ticonderoga, Arnold demanded to be put in command 
of the expedition, but the Green Mountain Boys would have 
no one but Allen to lead them, and Arnold went along as 
a volunteer, entering the gate side by side with him. After 
the capture of the fort, he again claimed command, but 
Allen was appointed to command the garrison. His arro- 
gance was boundless and when he was ordered to serve 
under another officer he flew into a rage and resigned his 
command. 

When it was decided to send an army to invade Canada, 
the energy and daring of Arnold enabled him to obtain the 
command of ten companies of Xew Englanders, and three 
companies of riflemen, led by the celebrated Morgan. 
With these troops he made a march through the wilderness 
that was comparable with any hazardous daring in military 
history. Their provisions became exhausted and they 
were compelled to eat dogs to satisfy their hunger; they 
forced their rude boats across streams filled with ice; they 



Benedict Arnold. 93 

met and overcame perils of every description, and were 
only kept from despair and death by the indomitable will 
of Arnold. The worn band at last reached the walls of 
Qnebec and summoned the garrison to surrender. This 
being refused with derision, Arnold waited for the arrival 
of Montgomery. In the assault that followed, Arnold 
intrepidly led his men and received a musket ball in the 
leg which shattered the bone. For a time he refused to 
be taken to the rear, but at last he was compelled to con- 
sent. 

For his bravery at Quebec, Arnold was made a brigadier- 
general, and when the Americans were forced to leave Can- 
ada, he was the last man that left the territory. At the 
battle of Yalcour Island, he fought the British ships with 
a few miserable galleys, and after a glorious fight, finding 
himself no match for the enemy, he broke through the 
British line, beached his galleys and set fire to them. 

There is no doubt but Congress was unjust to Arnold in 
the matter of promotions and in creating new major-gen- 
erals. Washington felt the injustice of Congress and en- 
treated Arnold not to act hastily in the matter. Stung to 
the quick, Arnold determined to visit Congress in person. 
While passing through Connecticut, he met a force of 
Americans who were pursuing the British troops that had 
burned Danbury. Forgetting his personal wrongs, he 
joined them and participated in the fighting that followed, 
exhibiting the most reckless daring and bravery. He 
commanded a division at the first battle of Saratoga, and 
the credit of the day is largely due to his exertions. He 
burst like a whirlwind into the thickest of the fight at the 
second battle near that place. His black steed was seen 



94 Military Heroes of the United States. 

wherever men fell fastest; his sword flashed wherever 
death was thickest. lie led the last charge against the 
British camp that ended the fight. His horse was shot 




Arnold Wounded at Battle of Saratoga. 

under him, and he sank to the ground with a ghastly 
wonnd in the same leg that was injured at Quebec. 

Congress could not refuse him his rank after such 
bravery. Washington complimented him in a letter, and 



Benedict Arnold. 95 

later presented liim with a sword and epaulettes. He was 
given the command of the city of Philadelphia, but he 
made himself unpopular. He became involved in his pri- 
vate affairs, and eventually he was sentenced to receive a 
reprimand from Washington. This he regarded as the 




Capture of Andre. 

crowning indignity in his career, and he began to plot 
treason against the government. He solicited and obtained 
the command of West Point and then planned to turn it 
over to the British. Major Andre was sent by Sir Henry 
Clinton to complete the arrangements with Arnold, and 
was captured within the American lines. He was tried and 



96 Military Heroes of the United States. 



executed as a spy. Arnold escaped to the British ship 
Vulture, and from there to New York. He was made a 
major-general and given a command. He was sent to Vir- 
ginia, where he laid waste the towns and devastated the 
country with extreme cruelty. Plans were formed for his 
capture, but he was able to frustrate them. At one time 
he inquired of a prisoner whom he had taken, what the 
Americans would do if they captured him. The prisoner 
replied, " They would cut off the leg that was wounded in 
fighting for liberty and bury it with the honors of war, and 
hang the rest of your body on a gibbet!" Arnold com- 
manded the British troops that burned New London and 
Groton, and there, in his native state, apparently de- 
lighted in cruel and malignant acts. 

After the close of the war Arnold went to England, 
where he was given a large sum of money and received 
some public favor, but he became universally detested, and 
removed to St. John's, New Brunswick, where he engaged 
in trade. Afterwards he returned to England and died, 
despised and shunned by all, on June 14, 1801. 




Andre's Prison. 




Escape of Benedict Arnold. 



97 



98 Military Heroes of the United States. 



DANIEL MORGAN. 

DANIEL MORGAN, one of the most efficient officers 
of the war of the Revolution, was born in New Jer- 
sey, in 1736. Nothing is known of his boyhood life, 
but at the age of seventeen, he is heard of in Virginia, 
working as a day laborer. He joined the army of General 
Braddock as a teamster, and on one occasion was given five 
hundred lashes with a whip for an alleged act of rudeness 
to a British officer. After Braddock^s disastrous campaign 
Morgan ^^as made an ensign, and on account of his judg- 
ment and bravery, was employed as a courier, going from 
one post to another. This service was especially hazardous, 
and on one occasion nearly cost Morgan his life. He and 
his two companions were suddenly attacked by a large 
party of Indians. Both his friends were killed and Mor- 
gan's jaw was shattered by a rifle ball. Clinging fast to 
his horse's neck, he darted away, pursued by his foes. One 
Indian alone was able to keep pace with the flying steed 
and his rider, but as he was being distanced, he threw his 
tomahawk, which missed its aim, and Morgan reached the 
nearest fort, insensible, but still clinging to his horse. 

After recovering from his wound, Morgan, who was a 
man of splendid proportions and enormous strength, de- 
veloped a love for brawls and fighting. Many of his en- 
counters were severe, but his dogged courage alwaya 
brought him victory. Eventually he settled down to the 




Daniel Morgan. 



100 Military Heroes of the United States. 

life of a farmer and began to acquire property, but soon 
after the battle of Bunker Hill he left his farm, enlisted a 
company of riflemen, and, at their head, marched to Bos- 
ton. He was attached to Arnold's command and shared 
all the dangers and privations of that terrible march 
through the unbroken wilderness imtil Quebec was 
reached. He was as headlong and daring as Arnold, and 
when that officer was carried to the rear, after being 
wounded, Morgan took the command, and placing ladders 
against the parapet poured in such a fire that the enemy 
fled. AVhen the British rallied, and their commander called 
on the brave handful that was left to lay down their arms, 
Morgan seized a musket, shot the officer dead, and then, 
shouting " Forward, my brave fellows!" led them against 
the leveled bayonets of the enemy. But his bravery and 
that of his men were unavailing. They were overpowered 
and forced to surrender. 

Morgan's reputation was such that, during his captivity, 
he was treated with kindness and offered a commission 
as colonel if he would join the British army. He scorn- 
fully refused the offer, and after an exchange of prisoners 
w^as effected rejoined the Continental army. He per- 
formed splendid services at both battles of Saratoga, and 
his men, with their unerring rifles, picked off the British 
officers with frightful rapidity. During the first battle the 
British General Frazer, mounted on a splendid gray horse, 
was the soul of the British movements. Arnold instructed 
Morgan not to let him remain long in the saddle. Calling 
a few of his most expert marksmen to him, Morgan said, 
as he pointed to Frazer: " That gallant officer is General 
Frazer. I admire him, but it is necessary that he should 



Daniel Morgan. 101 

die. Do your duty." The third shot mortally wounded 
the general. 

Efforts were made to prejudice Morgan against Wash- 
ington, but they utterly failed, and as his health had 
broken down under the strain of continued active service, 
he obtained leave of absence to recuperate. In 1781, how- 
ever, he was in South Carolina, serving under General 
Greene. He fought and defeated the British under Col- 
onel Tarleton, at the battle of Cowpens, receiving a gold 
medal from Congress for this victory. 

Morgan's riflemen were the terror of the British. The 
precision of their fire was marvelous. His men adored 
their leader, who relied more upon the affection of his 
men for him for effectiveness than upon discipline. He is 
said to have been "a fearful man in battle," and that "he 
fought with an obstinacy that nothing seemed able to over- 
come; indeed, he seldom was beaten, and even when de- 
feated his retreat was sullen, stern and dangerous." 

After Cowpens, Morgan was disabled by rheumatism 
and retired from the service. He died at AVinchester, Vir- 
ginia, on July 6, 1802, 



102 Military Heroes of the United States, 



MARQUIS De LAFAYETTE. 

THE people of the United States revere the memory of 
the Marquis de Lafayette, a wealthy nobleman of 
France, who abandoned a life of luxurious ease to 
devote his life, his energies and his fortune to the cause 
of a brave people struggling to throw off oppression and 
exercise their heaven-born right to independence. 

Lafayette was born September 6, 1757, at the Castle of 
Chavaniac, the ancestral home of his mother's family, in 
the province of Auvergne. He was the descendant of an 
ancient family which had furnished distinguished soldiers 
to France, his father being a French colonel who fell at 
the battle of Minden two months before his son was born. 
His mother was of equally ancient lineage and a lady of 
great wealth. 

At twelve years of age Lafayette was entered at the 
College du Plessis, at Paris, and while pursuing his studies 
there both his mother and her father died, leaving him the 
absolute master of a fortune of between thirty thousand 
and forty thousand dollars a year. At the age of fifteen 
years he was one of the pages of the young queen Marie 
Antoinette and a lieutenant of musketeers, and on April 
11, 1774, he married the daughter of the Duke d'Ayen, the 
granddaughter of one of the most powerful families at the 
court of France. This alliance opened the way to a bril- 
liant career, but the young nobleman had already studied 
the question of civil liberty, and when he heard of the 




The Marquis De Lafayette. 



103 



J.04: Military Heroes of the United States. 

revolt of the English colonies in America, he said: "When 
I first learned the subject of this quarrel my heart espoused 
warmly the cause of liberty, and I thought of nothing but 
of adding also the aid of my banner/' 

Lafayette at once placed himself in communication with 
the American embassy at Paris, and declared his intention 
of fitting out a vessel at his own expense. He offered to 
carry out such officers as wished to ally themselves with 
the cause of the colonists, and eventually sailed from 
Pasage, a Spanish port, in his own vessel — La Victoire — 
on April 26, 1777, accompanied by the Baron de Kalb and 
eleven other French officers. Innumerable obstacles had 
been placed in the way of his leaving France. His father- 
in-law had procured a letter of detention from the King, 
which forbade him to leave the country; but he eluded his 
guards and the French cruisers which were ordered to 
intercept him, and after a voyage of some weeks reached 
Georgetown, South Carolina, where he was warmly wel- 
comed by Major r)enjamin Huger. 

Pausing at Charleston long enough to equip one hun- 
dred and fifty men of Moultrie's command with arms and 
clothing, Lafayette hastened to Philadelphia and presented 
his letters to Congress. That from our minister at Paris 
contained the information that he had promised Lafayette 
a commission as major-general, but Congress received him 
coldly. Finally, he sent that body a note, in which he 
said: "After the sacrifices I have made, I have the right 
to exact two favors — one is to serve at my own expense; 
the other is to serve at first as a volunteer." This had the 
desired effect, and Congress gave the boy of nineteen the 
promised commission. Immediately afterwards he was 




"^ -^^- .--"., 






Lafayette Meets Washington. 



105 



106 Military Heroes of the United States. 

introduced to General Washington, who invited him to be- 
come a member of his military family as a volunteer aide- 
de-camp. A deep attachment grew up between the com- 
mander-in-chief and the enthusiastic youth, which lasted 
during their lives. 

Lafayette took part in the battle of Brandywine, and 
was severely Avounded in the leg while endeavoring to rally 
the broken American lines. After recovering from this 
wound he served under General Greene, in New Jersey, 
and distinguished himself by a bold attack upon the ad- 
vance guard of the enemy. This gave him a reputation, 
and he was assigned to the command of the Virginia 
militia. He shared the privations of the patriots at Valley 
Forge, conducted a masterly retreat at Barren Hill, and 
fought gallantly at Monmouth, winning the thanks of 
Congress for his services. Later he was sent to Khode 
Island to cooperate with a French fleet that had been sent 
to aid the patriots; and when the commander of the fleet 
took his ships to Boston to repair the damages inflicted 
by severe storms, Lafayette hurried after him to induce his 
return before the Americans were cut off by the reinforced 
British army. 

In January, 1779, Lafayette sailed for France, having 
received leave of absence from Congress. Largely by his 
representations the French Government sent a force of 
about four thousand men to assist the American army, 
and after arranging for their landing Lafayette joined 
Washington, and was a member of the board of officers 
that decided the case of Major Andre. 

He distinguished himself at the siege of Yorktown, that 
resulted in the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, capturing a 



Lafayette. 107 

redoubt by a headlong bayonet charge. Again obtaining 
leave of absence, Lafaj^ette arrived in France in 1782, and 
was received with popular enthusiasm. The King con- 
ferred the rank of marshal upon him. He faithfully served 
the United States by raising a loan in France and later in 
the conduct of the peace negotiations. When the treaty was 
signed, he chartered a ship and despatched the first news 
of the event to the United States. 

In 1784, Lafayette revisited America, arriving in N'ew 
York on August 4. He received an ovation in every city 
that he visited. ^' In every town and village through which 
he passed, the mothers and daughters and widows of the 
land, as well as his comrades-in-arms, gathered around him 
with heartfelt welcome. Congress appointed committees to 
receive him and to bid him adieu, and in every way a grate- 
ful nation showered upon him the most gratifying marks 
of their love and respect." He visited his old battlefields, 
and was the guest of \Yashington, for two weeks, at ]\Iount 
Vernon. Eeturning to France, after taking leave of Con- 
gress, he labored for the liberty of his countrymen. He 
passed through the terrible days of the French Revolution, 
refusing every offer tendered him by the monarchy. 
Finally he was obliged to fly from France, and falling into 
the hands of the Austrians, was made a prisoner. By them 
and the Prussian government he was treated with inhuman 
severity. After seeking his release in vain, his heroic wife 
asked the privilege of sharing his confinement. This was 
granted; but when her health gave way she was refused 
absence from her husband for the purpose of restoring it, 
except upon the condition that she would never return. 
She remained. The Emperor Napoleon I. secured the re- 



108 



Military Heroes of the United States. 



lease of Lafayette and made him a peer of the realm, which 
dignity he refused, however, but accepted a position in the 
Chamber of Deputies . He also refused the 
cross of the Legion of Honor. 

In 1824, Lafayette again visited the United 
States as the guest of the Nation. He was 
regarded as the hero of two continents, and 
treated everywhere with reverence and grati- 
tude. Cities were illuminated in honor of 
the "people's friend," and courtesies of 
every kind were showered upon him. He 
visited the tomb of Washington, and after a 
magnificent reception at Yorktown passed 
through the principal cities of the South. 
Upon his return to the East he attended 
the laying of the corner-stone of Bunker Hill 
monument, performing that office with his 
own hands. Before he embarked for France 
Congress passed a bill appropriating two hun- 
dred thousand dollars and a township of land 
in part payment for the money he had ex- 
pended in behalf of the infant republic. Upon 
his return to his native country he again 
served in the cham- 
ber of Deputies, and, 
in 1832, was placed 
in command of the 
National Guard . 
After the Duke of 
Orleans was p r o - 
claimed King of 
France Lafayette re- 
tired to private life. 
HediedMay30,1834. 



^ 




109 



110 Military Heroes of the United States. 



ANDREW JACKSON. 

AN^DREW JACKSON, the Hero of New Orleans, and 
the seventh President of the United States, was 
born on March 15, 1767, at Waxhaw Settlement, 
North Carolina. His father died when Andrew was an in- 
fant, but his mother, who was a woman of imcommon 
strength of character, provided for her children by her 
own exertions and contrived to send Andrew to the best 
school the neighborhood afforded. 

" Reading, writing and arithmetic were all the branches 
tanght in that early day. iVmong a crowd of urchins, 
seated on tlie slab benches of a school like this, fancy a 
tall, slender l)oy, with bright blue eyes, a freckled face, an 
abundance of liair, and clad in coarse copper-colored cloth, 
with bare feet dangling and kicking, and you have in your 
mind's eye a picture of 'Andy' as he appeared in his old 
field school days in the AYaxhaw Settlement." 

Jackson w^as a mischievous boy, daring, reckless and 
generous to a fault; fond of athletic sports, and, on the 
whole, " diflicult to get along with." When about thir- 
teen years of age, a number of settlers, among whom were 
Andrew and his brother Robert, were surprised and at- 
tacked by British and Tories in a house where they had 
met to defend their homes. The house was pillaged, and 
a British officer insolently commanded Andrew to clean 
boots. Tlie boy indignantly refused and the officer struck 
at him \nth. his sword. Andrew parried the blow with his 




General Andrew Jackson. 



Ill 



112 Military Heroes of the United States. 

left liaiid, receiving a cut the scar of whicli lie carried 
with him through life. Ivobert was then ordered to clean 
the boots. He refused to do it and received a cut on the 
head from the officer's sword which eventually proved fatal. 

Jackson's mother died when he was about sixteen years 
of age, and from that time the young man had to make his 
own way in life. He worked for a while in a saddler's shop, 
and afterwards taught school, studying law at the same 
time. Before he was twenty years old he practiced law. 
Later he moved to that section of country that eventually 
became the state of Tennessee, became its first member 
of Congress, then a member of the Senate, next a judge 
of the Supreme Court, and then a major-general of the 
state militia. In 1813, he raised a volunteer force and 
marched against the Creek Indians. He conquered them 
so thoroughly that he was made a major-general in the 
United States army in recognition of his services. In the 
latter part of 181-1 Jackson was at New Orleans, after cap- 
turing Pensacola from the Spaniards, who were then as- 
sisting the British in their operations along the Gulf. 

England was determined to capture New Orleans, and 
as their war with Napoleon w^as now over, it was possible 
to send a great and victorious army across the ocean to 
w^hip the Yankees. Thousands of veteran soldiers, 
trained in all the arts of war and having experiences on 
many a hard fought battle-field, were commanded by a 
brilliant leader — General Pakenham. On the same day 
that this proud and confident army reached the Mississippi, 
Jackson marched into New Orleans at the head of some 
strange looking backwoodsmen from Tennessee, clothed in 
bnckskin, wearing coonskin caps and carrying long rifles. 



Andrew Jackson. 



113 



They had fought with Indians and now were to try their 
strength with the trained military of the old world. 




Atrocities of the Creek Indians. 

Jackson had but little time in which to act. He rapidly 

threw np defences of mud and logs and cotton bales, and 
o 



114 Military Heroes of the United States. 

when Pakenham failed to batter them down, he deter- 
mined to carry them by assault. Pakenham had over 
ten thousand men; Jackson had less than five thousand. 
As the red-coated grenadiers, supported by the Scotch 
Highlanders in national costume, advanced upon the 
American fortifications, they were met by a terrific fire 
from the artillery, but swept on. Then the Americans 
arose from behind their breastworks, and, with deadly aim, 
poured volley after volley into the approaching lines. 
The carnage was awful and the British broke, only to be 
reformed and again hurled against the merciless fire of 
the frontiersmen. Again they broke and ran. Paken- 
ham was struck by a bullet and fell from his horse; other 
officers took command, and they, too, were stricken down. 
Nothing could stay the panic; nothing could stand before 
the long rifles of Jackson's sharpshooters, and the British 
fled to the river shore, where they remained for a week, 
and then, leaving their cannon behind them, sailed for 
home. Seven hundred British were killed, fourteen hun- 
dred were wounded and five hundred taken prisoners. 
The American loss was seven men killed and six wounded. 
In 1828, Jackson was elected President and proved to 
be one of the most popular men who have held that office. 
He served two terms and then retired to his estate, called 
the " Hermitage/' near Nashville, Tennessee, where he 
died on June 8, 1845. 




115 



IIG MiUiary Heroes of the United States. 



SAM HOUSTON. 

TFIIS flistin^iiished soldier and quaint American char- 
acter came of sturdy Scotch lineage. He was born 
at Timber Ridge Church, near Lexington, Rock- 
l)ridge County, Virginia, March 2, 1793. His father, 
]\Iajor Houston, served in the Revolutionary War, and 
after his death, which took place when Sam was but a 
boy, his mother emigrated to Tennessee and settled in 
Blount County. Sam had but little schooling in Virginia, 
and not much more in his new home. It is said that 
he obtained from some source a copy of Homer's Iliad, 
and that he studied it until he could repeat it from begin- 
ning to end. He early manifested an unconquerable spirit 
of independence. He refused to be called by his name of 
Samuel and insisted upon being addressed as plain Sam. 
He also invariably signed his name in that way to the 
end of his days. 

Sam became a clerk in a trader's store, but soon ran 
away and lived with the Cherokee Indians. He thirsted 
for freedom and found it in a free and untrammeled life 
with this tribe. In his own words, he "preferred meas- 
uring deer tracks to tape," and that "the wild liberty 
of the red man Avas more to his liking than the tyranny 
of his brothers." To pay a few debts that he had con- 
tracted, Houston returned to comparative civilization for 
awhile, and taught school to acquire the necessary money. 




General bc^^^x 11 



118 Military Heroes of the United States. 

When lie was twenty years of age lie enlisted in a Ten- 
nessee Volunteer regiment and became a splendid soldier 
and a fine drillmaster. He reached the grade of ensign, 
and fonght under General Jackson at the battle of Talla- 
poosa. In this stubborn engagement. Houston proved 
himself a hero, and was severely wounded by an arrow. 
He also received two bullets in his right shoulder. His 
wounds were so severe that his recovery occupied a long 
time. After the peace with the Creek nation he became 
an agent to treat with the Cherokees, and took a delegation 
of them to Washington. Feeling that his services had 
received but slight recognition from the government, he 
returned home, resigned his commission, and went to Nash- 
ville to study law. His progress was so rapid that he was 
soon admitted to the bar. He became district attorney and 
made great strides in his profession. He was made a 
major-general of the state and was elected to Congress. 
In 1827, he was elected Governor of Tennessee. Later, 
his wife left him for a cause that has never been explained, 
and Houston, deeply wounded by the use his enemies 
made of the occurrence, resigned his office and took up 
his abode with his former friends, the Cherokee Indians. 
Houston was formally adopted by the tribe and resumed 
his old name among them of the " Eaven." He par- 
ticipated in their councils and visited Washington in their 
behalf in 1830, and again in 1832. He thrashed a Con- 
gressman named Stanberry and was reprimanded mildly 
by Congress. He was convicted of assault and battery 
by the criminal court and fined five hundred dollars, 
which fine was remitted by President Jackson. Upon 
his return to Tennessee he received an ovation. 



;rr^^^^^ 




The Texas Kangers at San Jacinto. 



119 



120 Military Heroes of the United States. 

In 1834, Texas was a part of Mexico. Houston had 
emigrated there, and with others desired to throw off 
the yoke of Mexico and set up an independent republic. 
Houston was the leader and soul of the movement. A 
convention declared Texas independent, and Santa Anna, 
the President of the Mexican Republic, underwent a crush- 
ing defeat at San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836, on which 
occasion the Texans were commanded by General Hous- 
ton. 

Previous to this, the celebrated massacre of the Alamo 
had taken place. A few devoted Texans had taken ref- 
uge in an old church and were besieged by an overwhelm- 
ing force of Mexicans. Travis, their gallant commander, 
did all that mortal man could do to strengthen the place. 
The enemy made two unsuccessful attempts to scale the 
walls. On the third attempt, the Texans, whose am- 
munition was then exhausted, were overpowered. " With 
clubbed guns the survivors fought on until nearly the 
whole number were cut down. Travis fell near the west- 
ern wall; Crockett in a corner near the church. Bowie 
was butchered and mutilated on his sick-bed. Evans was 
shot while attempting to fire the magazine, a duty which, 
by agreement among the defenders, had fallen to him as 
the survivor. There had been no surrender; there had 
been no retreat. One brief hour after the Sabbath sun 
had touched the grim walls flying the flag of the Lone 
Star Eepublic, the sacrifice for country was complete.'^ 

At San Jacinto, Houston had only half as many men 
as were opposed to him, but the Texans were fighting 
for their liberty and won a glorious victory. Santa Anna 
was captured and forced to sign a treaty by which Texas 



Zachary Taylor, 121 

was made independent. Houston had several horses shot 
under him and his ankle was shattered by a bullet. In 
this battle the watchword of the Texans was " Eemember 
the Alamo !'^ and well the}'- avenged their martyred dead. 

Houston naturally received the highest honors the new 
republic could pay him. He was elected President, and 
served two terms. He ruled wisely, made treaties with 
warlike Indians, and eventually succeeded in having Texas 
admitted into the Union. Afterwards he became a 
United States Senator, and then Governor of the new 
state. He died at Huntersville, Texas, July 25, 1863. 



ZACHAEY TAYLOR. 

ZACHAEY TAYLOE, a distinguished general, and 
twelfth President of the United States, was born in 
Orange County, Virginia, November 24, 1784. 
His boyhood was passed upon his father's farm and in 
acquiring an education at the common schools of the 
neighborhood. When he was twenty-four years of age, 
his brother, Hancock, died. He had held a lieutenant's 
commission in the army and Zachary now applied for it. 
It was given to him. Two years later, he was made a 
captain, and in 1812 he was promoted to the rank of 
major for his brave defense of Fort Harrison against the 
Indian chief," Tecumseh. 

As the settlers moved further westward, their farms 
and villages encroached upon the Indian border-line. The 



132 21iliianj Heroes of the United States. 

Indians resented the presence of the white man on their 
hinds and their great chief, Tecumseh, formed a league 
against the whites. He selected Fort Harrison as a point 
of attack, and on September 12, 1812, having failed to gain 
the fort by strategy, commenced a furious assault upon the 




Tecumseh. 

works. A little before midnight, the American sentries 
gave the alarm, and soon the block-house was in flames. 
Without were four hundred savages, led by their wily 
chief; inside the stockade were but fifty men, of whom 
two-thirds of the number were disabled by sickness. The 





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Zachary Taylor. 



123 



124 Military Heroes of the United States. 

scene was one of wild confusion, bnt Taylor ordered the 
bnrning boards stripped from the building, and then 
earthworks were thrown up, behind which, for seven hours, 
the little garrison offered such a determined resistance 
that the savages were driven away. 

In 1814, Taylor was fighting the combined British and 
Indian forces on Eock River. In 1819, he was a lieuten- 
ant-colonel at New Orleans. He was made a colonel in 
1832. He served in the Black Hawk war, and then, in 
1837, he was sent against the refractory Seminole Indians, 
whom he fought so successfully that the conduct of the 
campaign was i:>laced in his hands. Osceola, the chief of 
the Seminoles, had gathered his braves on the edge of 
a dense swamp near Lake Okeechobee, on December 25, 
1837. Taylor's men charged across the morass that sep- 
arated them from the foe and fought the battle knee-deep 
in the wet, yielding soil. Again and again the Seminoles 
threw themselves upon the foe, but nothing could break 
the unflinching column before which they were obliged to 
retire. 

Taylor became a brigadier-general by brevet after the 
battle, and was then ordered to the Southwest. The 
Mexican war l^roke out, and on May 7, 1.S46, he fought the 
battle of Palo Alto. He had but twenty-three hundred 
men to oppose to a Mexican force of six thousand. The 
battle opened with artillery and raged furiously. The 
prairie grass became ignited and dense clouds of smoke 
obscured both friend and foe. Then the Mexican infan- 
try and cavalry advanced, but recoiled and fled. The next 
day the Mexicans Avere again routed at Resaca de la Palma. 
On that day, seventeen hundred men put to flight six 




125 



126 Military Heroes of the United States. 

thousand Mexicans. In June, Taylor was promoted to 
the rank of major-general. In the following September 
he captured Monterey, after a ten days' siege and three 
days' hard fighting. Then followed the battle of Buena 
Vista, where Taylor fought an army four times the size 
of his own. 

Before the engagement the Mexican commander sent 
a flag of truce with a summons to surrender. Taylor 
knew the odds that were against him, but the message he 
sent back was: " General Taylor never surrenders." Then 
he turned to his men and said: " I intend to stand here 
not only so long as a man remains, but so long as a piece 
of a man is left." In the battle that ensued Taylor gave 
his celebrated order : " A little more grape. Captain 
Bragg." The battle of Buena Vista was a brilliant con- 
flict, and a splendid victory for the Americans. 

Taylor was beloved by his soldiers, who spoke of him 
as "Old Rough and Ready." He was strict in discipline, 
but careless about his personal appearance. He seldom 
appeared in uniform, and might easily have been mistaken 
for a farmer. 

In November, 1847, Taylor asked permission to return 
to the United States, tiring of the inactive life he was 
compelled to lead after Buena Vista. He was received 
with enthusiastic demonstrations everywhere, and was the 
recipient of many flattering courtesies. Wherever he 
went the people made a jubilee. He was elected Presi- 
dent in 1848, but did not live to finish his term of office. 
His death occurred on July 9, 1850. 



Winfield Scott 137 



WINFIELD SCOTT. 

THIS distinguished general was born on June 13, 1786, 
at Petersburg, A^irginia. At an early age he 
studied law and was admitted to the bar, but in 
1808, left his profession for that of a soldier, becoming a 
captain of light artillery. When war with Great Britain 
broke out, in 1812, Scott was made a lieutenant-colonel 
in the Second Artillery. He was among the officers at the 
battle of Queenstown, on the Niagara River, who displayed 
conspicuous skill and courage. Early in the battle the 
Americans were victorious, but reinforcements arrived for 
the British and the American army was captured. After 
Scott was exchanged he was made a brigadier-general. 
He captured Fort Erie and tore down the British flag 
with his own hands. On July 5, 1814, he fought the bat- 
tle of Chippewa and defeated the British. Although 
General Brown was his commanding officer, Scott was the 
one who won the day, his superior saying, " To him more 
than any other man I am indebted for the victory.^' 

On July 25, the battle of Lundy's Lane was fought and 
was a victory for the Americans. Scott had two horses 
killed under him, and was wounded in the right shoulder 
by a musket ball. Six months later peace was declared, 
but previous to this event Scott had been thanked by 
Congress, " For his universal good conduct throughout the 
war." After the war Scott was made a major-general and 



128 Military Heroes of the United States. 

presented with a gold medal by Congress. Later he was 
sent to Europe on a confidential mission, and upon his 
return was placed in command of the seaboard. For the 
next thirty years he held several important positions, and 
in 1841 was made commander-in-chief of the United 
States army. 

When the Mexican war began, General Scott arrived at 
Vera Cruz and invested it on March 13, 1847. He bom- 
barded it for fifteen days, and then the Stars and Stripes re- 
placed the Mexican flag over the city and the famous fort- 
ress of San Juan d'Ulloa. Scott then marched toward 
the city of Mexico, and on April 18 won the battle of Cerro 
Gordo. This was a hard-fought field and General Santa 
Anna, who, before the battle, had boasted that he would 
die fighting rather than yield, was glad to escape on a 
mule, leaving his papers and his wooden leg behind him. 

After Cerro Gordo, Scott pushed on, and in succession 
captured Jalapa, Perote and Puebla. In two months he 
had gained a series of brilliant victories and carried dis- 
may into the very heart of Mexico. The battles of Con- 
treras and Cherubusco followed, and in each instance the 
Americans were victorious. Then San Antonio was cap- 
tured, and but few positions lay between the invaders and 
the metropolis of Mexico itself. On September 8, the for 
tifications called El Molino del Eey (the King's Mills) 
were carried after a desperate conflict. On the same day, 
the Casa de Mata, another of the outer defenses of Cha- 
pultepec, was also stormed and carried, and the Castle 
itself, situated on a rocky height, was the only obstacle 
to be overcome before the Americans could plant their flag 
within the capital itself. On September 12, the castle of 




Winfield Scott. 



129 



130 MUiiary JJerocf^ of ihe United f^tafes. 



('bapiiUepcc was Loniharded, and on ilie following day it 
was carried by assault. The Mexican authorities now sent 
a deputation to General Scott and begged him to spare 
the city, but Scott had expended a large number of lives 
in reaching the metropolis and was resolved to humble 
the pride of the enemy by entering in force. This he 
did on September 14, and the flag of the United States 
was raised upon the National Palace as he rode in full 
uniform into the Plaza, amid tremendous cheers that 
broke from the ranks. 

Scott was given a magnificent reception upon his re- 
turn to the United States, and all united to do him honor. 
In 1852, he was a candidate for the Presidency, but was 
defeated. When the Civil "War broke out Scott was still 
the commander-in-chief of the army, but the once splen- 
did soldier was now old and infirm. lie retired to West 
Point, where his death occurred on May 29, 1866. 





ULYSSES S. GRANT. 



THIS distinguished general and afterwards tlie eight- 
eenth President of the United States, was born on 
April 27, 1822, at Point Pleasant, Clermont County, 
Ohio. His ancestors distinguished themselves in the old 

Scottish wars and were ever strong fighters for the cause 

131 



132 Military Heroes of the United States. 

of liberty. Ulysses^ father was Jesse R. Grant, descended 
from one Matthew Grant, who came to America in 1630. 
He married Miss Hannah Simpson, a native of Mont- 
gomery County, Pennsylvania, and followed the bnsiness 
of a tanner. Their son Ulysses was christened Hiram 
Ulysses Grant, but the member of Congress who appointed 
the boy to a cadetship at West Point, by accident changed 
the name to U. S. Grant. 

It is said of Grant that he never liked the business of 
a tanner. He was willing to become a farmer or follow 
almost any other occupation. He was a cool, robust, and 
strong boy, neither precocious nor stupid. After his son 
had become famous, his father furnished these anecdotes 
of his childhood: 

"The leading passion of Ulysses, almost from the time 
he could go alone, was for horses. The first time he ever 
drove a horse alone, he was about seven and a half years 
old. I had gone away from home to Ripley, twelve miles 
off. I went in the morning and did not get back until 
night. I owned, at that time, a three-year-old colt, which 
had been ridden under the saddle to carry the mail, but 
had never had a collar on. While I was gone, Ulysses 
got the colt and put a collar and the harness onto him, 
and hitched him up to a sled. Then he put a single line 
onto him, drove off, loaded up the sled with brush, and came 
back again. He kept at it, hauling successive loads all 
day, and when I came home at night, he had a pile of 
brush as big as a cabin. At about ten years of age, he 
used to drive a pair of horses alone from Georgetown, 
where we lived, forty miles to Cincinnati, and drive back 
a load of passengers. 



Ulysses S. Grant. 133 

" When Ulysses was a boy, if a circus or any show came 
along in which there was a call for somebody to come for- 
ward and ride a pony, he was always the one to present 
himself, and whatever he undertook to ride, he rode. 
This practice he kept np until he got to be so large that he 
was ashamed to ride a pony. Once, when he was a boy, 
a show came along in which there was a mischievous pony, 
trained to go around the ring like lightning, and he was 
expected to throw any boy that attempted to ride him. 
^ Will any boy come forward and ride this pony?' shouted 
the ringmaster. Ulysses stepped forward and mounted 
the pony. The performance began. Eound and round 
the ring went the pony, faster and faster, making the 
greatest effort to dismount the rider, but Ulysses sat as 
steadily as if he had grown to the pony's back. Presently 
out came a large monkey, and sprang up behind Ulysses. 
The people set up a great shout of laughter, and on the 
pony ran, but it all produced no effect on the rider. Then 
the ringmaster made the monkey jump up onto Ulysses' 
shoulders. It stood with its feet on his shoulders and with 
his hands holding on to his hair. At this there was 
another and a louder shout, but not a muscle of Ulysses' 
face moved. A few more turns, and the ringmaster gave 
it up; he had come across a boy that the pony and the 
monkey both could not dismount." 

Grant received an education at West Point that fitted 
him for his work in life. He graduated in 1843, standing 
twenty-first in a class of thirty-nine. At West Point he 
was said to be a " plain, common-sense, straightforward 
youth, shunning notoriety, taking to his military duties in 
a very business-like manner — not a prominent man in the 



134 Military Heroes of ilie U^iited States. 

corps^ but respected by all, and ver}^ popular witli friends. 
His best standing was in the mathematical branches, and 
their application to tactics and military en< 




Bombardment of Fort Sumter. 



After graduating from West Point, Grant served bravely 
in the war with Mexico, winning the approval of his su- 
perior officers for distinguished gallantry under fire, and 



Ulysses S. Grant. 



135 



reaching the rank of a captain. He resigned from the 
army in 1854 and retired to a farm near St. Louis. In 
1859 he entered into partnership with his father in the 
leather business^ at Galena, Illinois. When Fort Sumter 




Grant Captures Fort Donelson. 

was fired on by the Confederates, he said to a friend: 
" The government educated me for the army. What I 
am I owe to my country. I have served her through one 
war, and, live or die, will serve her through this/^ He 



136 Military Heroes of the United States. 

raised a company of volunteers at once, and tendered his 
and their services to the Governor of Illinois, who at once 
made him adjutant-general of the St te. He rendered 
efficient services in this position, and was then made a 




Capture of the Works at Petersburg. 

colonel of an Illinois regiment, his commission dating 
June 15, 1861. In August of the same year he was made 
a brigadier-general, and in December was appointed com- 
mander of the department of Cairo. He captured Fort 



138 21Uitanj Heroes of the United States. 



Henry, on the Tennessee River, and then Fort Donelson, 
on the Cumherhxnd River, acting in connection with the 
Union gunboats. Both of them were brilliant affairs, and 
Grant was made a major-general. 

Grant fought the great battle of Shiloh, on April 7, 
18G2, and in a two days' fight routed the enemy. On Sep- 
tember 19, he fought and won the battle of Inka, and 
then besieged A'icksljurg. This stronghold of the Confed- 
eracy surrendered to him on July 4, 1863. In Xovember 
of the same year he won a victory at Chattanooga over 
General Bragg. On March 1, 186^1:, General Grant was 
made lieutenant-general and commander of all the armies 
of the United States. Previous to this, however. Congress 
had voted him a gold medal for his services. 




House Where Lee Surrendered. 



William T. Sherman. 139 

Then Grant planned his last great campaign, and the 
battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor 
followed. He then besieged Petersburg and took it, and 
then Eichmond fell into his hands. He then compelled 
General Lee and his whole army to surrender at Appo- 
mattox Court House, and the great Civil War was over. 
On July 35, 1866, Congress created the rank of General 
and conferred it upon Grant. In 1868 he was elected 
President of the United States, and again in 1872. After 
his second term he spent several years in a voyage around 
the world — one of tlie most memorable, in many respects, 
ever known in history. No man ever traveled so far and 
was received with such distinguished consideration wher- 
ever he went. General Grant made his home at Galena, 
Illinois, after his return from his tour, and later took up 
his residence in New York city. A cancerous affliction 
of the throat now seized upon him, and on June 16, 1885, 
he was removed to Mt. McGregor, New York, where he 
died on July 23, 1885. 

The entire country went into mourning. Flags were at 
.half-mast throughout the land. On August 8 the last sad 
rites were paid to the dead hero, and he was laid to rest 
at Eiverside Park, New York. 



WILLIAM T. SHERMAK 

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHEEMAN was born on 
February 8, 1820, at Lancaster, Ohio. His father 
died when he was nine years of age, and the boy 
was adopted by the Hon. Thomas Ewing, who placed him 



140 Military Heroes of the United States, 

at school, where he remained until he was sixteen years 
old. Mr. Ewing then sent him to the United States Mili- 
tary Academy, at West Point, where he graduated four 
years later, the sixth in his class. 

When Mr. Ewing offered to adopt one of the Sherman 
children — there were eleven of them — after the death of 
their father, the question arose which one he should se- 
lect. " I must have the smartest of the lot," said Mr. 
Ewing. " Well, come and look at them and take your 
pick,'' replied the mother. Still undecided, Mr. Ewing 
continued : " They all look alike to me." " Take ' Cump,' " 
said the mother and her oldest daughter; "he's by far the 
smartest." In after life General Sherman said of his 
benefactor: "He ever after treated me as his own son." 
And of Sherman as a boy, Mr. Ewing said: "There was 
nothing especially remarkable about him, excepting that 
I never knew so young a boy who could do an errand so 
correctly and promptly as he did. He was transparently 
honest, faithful and reliable, studious and correct in his 
habits; his progress in education was steady and sub- 
stantial." 

According to his own account of himself, Sherman was 
not selected for any office at West Point, but remained a 
private throughout the whole four years. After his grad- 
uation he was made a second lieutenant in the Third Ar- 
tillery. He served in various parts of the country until 
1853, when, becoming tired of the monotony of garrison 
life, he resigned his commission and engaged in the bank- 
ing business at San Francisco. In 1860 he became the 
president of the Louisiana State Military Academy, but 
resigned when he saw that the Civil War was inevitable. 




General William Tecumseh Sherman. 



141 



l-i2 Military Heroes of the United States. 

AVhen the conflict began Sherman was made a colonel, and 
at the battle of Bull Eun commanded a brigade. In this 
l^attle he saved General Hunter's command from annihi- 
lation. Sherman was at Fort Donelson, and under Grant 




Battle at Chattanooga. 

at the bloody battle of Shiloh. Several horses were killed 
nnder him at Shiloh, but he seemed to bear a charmed life, 
although in the hottest of the fire. Grant said of him: 
'^ To his individual efforts I am indebted for the success 
of this battle/"* 



144 Military Heroes of the United States. 

After Shiloh, Sherman was made a major-general. He 
was conspicuons at the siege of Vieksl)iirg and at the bat- 
tle of Chattanooga. Early in 1864 he marched towards 
Meridian, Mississippi, and the Confederates everywhere 
retreated before him. Arrived at Meridian, he burned the 
arsenal and many other buildings. lie sent out raiding 
parties in every direction and destroyed everything that 
would benefit the Confederacy. No private property was 
molested, however, but it was impossible to prevent the 
soldiers from occasionally raiding a henroost. One who 
was with the army said: "An ardent secession lady dis- 
covered a vile Yankee purloining a pair of fat chickens. 
Terribly incensed at this wanton robbery, she made a bold 
onslaught, but all her expostulations failed to convince 
the demoralized and hungry 'mudsill' that he was sin- 
ning, for he replied, 'Madam! this accursed rebellion must 
be crushed, if it takes every chicken in Mississippi.' " 

Sherman now invaded Georgia and defeated Generals 
Johnston and Plood, and besieged Atlanta. In November, 
1864, Sherman began his famous march to the sea. For 
a time the North had no intelligence from Sherman's 
army. " Marching Through Georgia " has been celebrated 
in song and story. There were no armies to oppose the 
Union forces, and there were few conflicts with the peo- 
ple. The army foraged on a gigantic scale, but there was 
no pillaging. At last. Fort McAllister, near the city of 
Savannah, was reached. Sherman watched the assault 
from the roof of a mill. To General Howard, who stood 
by his side, he said: " See that flag in the advance, How- 
ard? HoAv steadily it moves. Not a man falters. There 
they go still. Grand! grand! That flag still goes for- 







10 



145 



146 Military Heroes of the United States. 

ward! There is no flinching there! Look! It has halted! 
They waver — no, it's the parapet! There they go again. 
Now they reach it. Some are over! Look there! a flag on 
the works! Another! another! It's ours — the fort is 
ours!" 

The triumphant march to the sea was ended at Savan- 
nah. After capturing the city, Sherman telegraphed to 
President Lincoln: '^ I heg to present to you as a Christ- 
mas gift the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty 
guns and plenty of ammunition, and about twenty-five 
thousand bales of cotton." 

Sherman was made lieutenant-general in 1866, and 
general in 1869. He afterwards traveled abroad, and was 
retired from active service in 1884. His death occurred 
in the city of New York, on February 14, 1891. 



PHILIP H. SHEEIDAN. 

PHILIP HENRY SHERIDAN was born at Somerset, 
Ohio, March 6, 1831. He was the son of Irish 
parents, poor as to this world's goods, and very lit- 
tle is known of him up to the time he was seventeen years 
of age, when he was sent to West Point, where he proved 
to be an energetic student. He had a very quick temper, 
however, and his life at the United States Military Acad- 
emy was marked by successive quarrels and fights in which 
it involved him. He graduated in 1853, and for the next 
eight years served in the Southwest and on the Pacific 
Coast. He was then made a captain and stationed at 




General Philip H. Sheridan. 



W 



148 Military Heroes of the United States. 

Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In 1862 Sheridan was the 
colonel of the Second ]\Iichigan Cavalry, and after the 
battle of Booneville, where he displa3^ed wonderful strat- 
egic abilities, was made a brigadier-general of volunteers. 

At the battle of Murfreesboro Sheridan added to his 
fame as a cavalry leader. General Rosecrans said in his 
report of that battle: " The constancy and steadfastness 
of his troops enabled the reserve to reach the right of our 
army in time to tnrn the tide of battle, and changed a 
threatened rout into a victory. He has fairly won pro- 
motion." 

" Little Phil," as he was called in the army, fought with 
daring, skill and energy at Chickamauga and at Mission- 
ary Ridge, and later General Grant gave him the command 
of all the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac. 

In July, 1864, the Confederate General Early invaded 
Pennsylvania, and burned the town of Chambersburg, 
contriving to elude the forces that were sent against him. 
Then Sheridan was placed in command and defeated him 
at Opequan, on September 19, and again on October 19, 
at Cedar Creek. Sheridan had gone to Washington, leav- 
ing General Wright in temporary command, and Early's 
assault, when it came, was delivered simultaneously against 
the front and rear. Most of the pickets were captured; 
the rest of the troops, suddenly aroused from sleep, were 
thrown into confusion and driven back towards Middle- 
town. Eighteen of the Union guns were seized by Early 
and turned on their late possessors, and for a time it 
seemed as if the Union troops would be utterly over- 
whelmed. Wright formed a new line of battle, however, 
and kept up a desperate struggle for five hours, but his 




149 



150 Military Heroes of the 

lines wore retreatiiipj wlien Sheridan rode up, having 
come from Winchester, thirty miles away. For two hours 
he rode back and forth along the line, shouting: " Face 
the other way, boys! face the other way! We are going 
back to our camp! We are going to lick them out of their 
boots." With shouts and cheers the soldiers followed 
him, filled with his own daring courage and enthusiasm. 
He threw them upon the enemy under an awful fire of ar- 
tillery and musketry, and soon sent the foe flying in utter 
rout, winning a glorious victory and regaining the guns 
that had been lost in the morning. 

For his "personal gallantry, military skill and just 
confidence in the courage anl patriotism of his troops,'* 
Sheridan was promoted to the rank of major-general, on 
November 14. He had saved the Union cause from a 
crushing reverse and permanently crippled p]arly's army. 

On April 1, 1865, Sheridan gained the battle of Five 
Forks. The desperate game of the Confederacy was al- 
most played out. He saw his men starving to death, sur- 
rounded on every side. " Then Sheridan — that new, me- 
teoric, dashing leader, who had at last waked up Virginia 
to a realizing sense of what Yankee cavalry could do when 
properly led, whipped his way through the Shenandoah, 
came trotting down the valley of the James, tearing 
canals, roads and railways into ruins as he rode, joined 
his great leader now reaching round the southern limits 
of the threatened lines, and then, one finger at a time, 
the failing grasp of Lee on his last position began to let 
go; and on the first of April Sheridan once more had shot 
round the now quivering flank, fought and won the bril- 
liant battle of Five Forks, the real wind-up of the war." 




w 



151 



152 MilUanj Heroes of the United States. 

After giving him his instructions, Grant said to Sheri- 
dan: "I mean to end this business here," and Sheridan's 
reply was: " That's what I like to hear you say. Let us 
end this business here." After the splendid victory Sheri- 
dan sent word to Grant of his success, and the commander- 
in-chief telegraphed President Lincoln that " Sheridan 
had carried everything before him." 

When Lee retreated from Richmond, Sheridan led the 
pursuit, and he was present when General Lee surrendered 
the gallant army of Northern Virginia. On that day 
Sheridan's form " was snugly buttoned in the double- 
breasted frock coat of a major-general, the dress he wore 
on all occasions in the field; his short legs were thrust deep 
into huge cavalry boots; his eyes were still snapping with 
the flame of the morning fight; his whole manner was so 
suggestive of the trick he had of hitching nervously for- 
ward in the saddle when things were not going to suit 
him, that he looked to some present as though he were 
still disposed to suspect some ruse, some trick, and was 
ready to spring to horse and pitch in again at an instant's 
notice." 

After the Civil War, Sheridan commanded several mili- 
tary departments and was made lieutenant-general in 1869. 
He was made commander-in-chief of all the United States 
armies upon the retirement of General Sherman, and 
reached the full rank of general on June 1, 1888. He 
died on August 5, 1888, at the age of fifty-seven years. 
His remains were buried in the Arlington National Ceme- 
tery, and were followed to their resting place by represen- 
tatives from every branch of government and by an im- 
mense concourse of private mourners. 



George B. McClellan. 153 



GEORGE B. McCLELLAN. 

GEOEGE BKINTON McCLELLAN was born in Phil- 
adelphia^ Pennsylvania, September 3, 1826. His 
father was a physician and the boy remained nnder 
his roof until, at a proper age, he was sent to West Point. 
He graduated in 1846, the second in his class. He was 
made a second lieutenant, and soon afterwards was sent 
to Mexico, where he distinguished himself throughout the 
war. Here he developed that magnetic attraction which 
won him so many devoted followers among his soldiers, 
then and in after life. He was cool under fire at Cerro 
Gordo and at Chapultepec, as well as in earlier engage- 
ments, and was commended by his superior officers for 
" gallant and meritorious conduct.'' 

After the close of the war with Mexico, McClellan was 
intrusted with various engineering expeditions, and later 
was instructed by the Government to investigate the entire 
railroad system of the United States. His report was a 
model of clearness and gave him a high reputation. After 
executing a secret mission for the Government in the 
West Indies, McClellan was sent to Europe, with two 
other army officers, to study the European armies in the 
Crimea. The report of this commission led to great 
changes in fortifications and military and naval equipment 
in the United States. In 1857, McClellan resigned from 
the army and became superintendent and afterwards pres- 
'dent of the Illinois Central Eailroad. 



154 Military Heroes of the United States, 

When the Civil War broke out, McClellan was employed 
by the Governor of Ohio to organize the troops from that 
state, and on May 13, 1861, he was assigned to the com- 




Battle of INIalvern Hill. 



mand of the Department of the Ohio. Two campaigns 
in Western Virginia followed, in which he was very suc- 
cessful, receiving the thanks of Congress. In 1861, he 




General George B. McClellan. 



155 



156 Military Heroes of the United States. 

was relieved of his command and given that of the Army of 
the Potomac, a body of troops which soon assumed ehape 
under the effects of his superb discipline. In this work 
he displayed rare genius and great organizing qualities. 

McClellan marched towards Richmond; captured York- 
town; fought many battles on the Chickahominy, and then 
whipped the Confederate General Lee at Malvern Hill. 
Previous to this engagement, McClellan's operations had 
been severely criticized by the public and the press. It 
seemed as though the patience of the country was ex- 
hausted by the failure of the Army of the Potomac to ac- 
complish anything tangible, and the people were exas- 
perated at the severe losses that the Confederates had 
inflicted upon that splendid body of troops. President 
Lincoln telegraphed to McClellan, " I think the time is 
near when you must either attack Richmond or give 
up the job and come to the defence of Washington." 

On June 30, 1862, McClellan found himself in posses- 
sion of Malvern Hill. Not content with this strong posi- 
tion, he left the army there, and on the gunboat Galena 
searched for a place on the river which would be the '^ final 
location of the army and its depots/' In his absence, the 
battle of Malvern Hill was fought; but the Confederate 
Army, under General Lee, was beaten back. McClellan 
did not follow up this decisive victory, however, but fell 
back to Harrison's Landing. McClellan's most devoted 
adherents were dissatisfied and even indignant at this 
policy. 

In August, McClellan marched to the Potomac to re- 
sist the Confederates who had invaded Maryland. He 
fought the two days' battle of Antietam in September, 



lo8 Militanj Heroes of the United States. 

but again delay.ed in following up his victory. In Novem- 
ber, the command of the army was taken from him and 
given to General Burnside. After that McClellan took no 
part in the war. 

In 1864, McClellan was nominated for the Presidency, 
but was defeated. He then resigned his commission in 
the army and passed some time in Europe. Upon his 
return to the United States he was employed as an en- 
gineer in several important undertakings, and was Gov- 
ernor of New Jersey from 1878 to 1881. His death oc- 
curred on October 29, 1885. 



AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. 

AIBROSE EVERETT BURNSIDE came of Scotch 
ancestr}^ He was born on May 23, 1824, at Liberty, 
Indiana. He was sent to West Point, and gradu- 
ated from there in 1847. He then served in New Mex- 
ico, and was made a first-lieutenant in 1852. He invented 
a breech-loading rifle and introduced some changes in the 
method of carrying infantry knapsacks. Meanwhile he 
had resigned his commission in the army, but four days 
after the first call for troops to defend the Union he was 
on the way to Washington as colonel of the First Rhode 
Island Volunteers. He commanded a brigade at the battle 
of Bull Run and soon afterwards was promoted to be a 
brigadier-general. 

Burnside commanded the expedition that had for its 
object the capture of Newbern and Roanoke, early in 
1862. On January 13, he made a splendid assault on the 



Ambrose E. Burnside. 



159 



Confederate works and carried them, sweeping eveniliing 
before him. The victory was brilliant and decisire, and 
Bnrnside was made a major-general in consequence. Af- 
terwards Bnrnside compelled the surrender of Fort Macon 




General Ambrose E. Biirnside, 

and the city of Beaufort. Later he won the battle of 
South Mountain and commanded the left wing of Mc- 
Clellan's army at Antietam. 

On XoTcmber 7, 1862, McClellan surrendered the com- 
mand of his army to General Burnside. Previous to this 



160 Military Heroes of the United States. 

date, the position had been offered to Biirnside, but had 
been refused. It was onl}^ on the peremptory order of 
the AYar Department that lie accepted it now. Burnside 
reorganized the army, somewhat, and then moved on Fred- 
ericksburg, situated on the southern side of the Rappa- 
hannock, where the Confederates had posted heavy 
batteries. Burnside had at this time an army of one hun- 
dred and fifty thousand men and a splendid artillery train. 
It took him weeks to build pontoon bridges and transfer 
his army across the river, but it was finally accomplislied 
and the battle of Fredericksburg began at an early hour 
on December 13, 18G2. Burnside hoped to cut the 
enemy's line in two, but was unable to do so. Again and 
again the Union divisions were ordered to expel the Con- 
federates from the woods and hills back of Fredericks- 
burg at the point of the bayonet, but every assault that 
was made by the Union forces was beaten back by the 
enemy. The contest continued until dark, but the Union 
troops were unable to win a single yard or dislodge their 
opponents from their possessions. Neither army assumed 
the defensive on the following day, but later, Burnside, in- 
fluenced by the advice of his generals, withdrew from his 
perilous position. Two days later Lee found nothing before 
him but a deserted land, a ruined town, a winding river and 
a line of batteries frowning from the opposite shore. The 
affair was disastrous to the Union cause, but Burnside 
took the entire responsibility of it upon himself and re- 
signed the command of the army. 

In 1863, Burnside drove the Confederates out of East 
Tennessee and made a brilliant entry into Knoxville, where 
the loyal inhabitants received him with great demonstra- 
tions of joy. His operations were successful until, in 1864, 



George H. Thomas. 161 

while assisting Grant before Petersburg, his secret mining 
operations proved a failure and the enemy were actually 
benefited by the explosion that was confidently expected 
to benefit the Union cause. Burnside proffered his resig- 
nation, but it was not accepted, and a leave of absence 
was given him instead. He eventually resigned from the 
army in 1865, and the following year was elected Governor 
of Ehode Island. He visited Europe in 1870 and tried 
his hand at mediation between the powers of France and 
Germany, but without success. He afterwards served 
Rhode Island in Congress. His death took place on Sep- 
tember 13, 1881, at Bristol, in that state. 



GEOEGE H. THOMAS. 

GEORGE HENRY THOMAS, was born on July 31, 
1816, in Southampton County, Virginia. He was 
the child of wealthy parents and received an ex- 
cellent education. When twenty years of age, he entered 
the United States Military Academy at West Point, and 
graduated the twelfth in his class of forty-five, in 1840. 
He was made a second lieutenant in the Third Artillery, 
and his first service was against the Seminole Indians 
in Florida. His conduct in battle was gallant and irre- 
proachable, and later he was stationed at Fort Moultrie, 
and still later at Fort McHenry. In 1845, he was in Mex- 
ico with General Taylor. He was conspicuous at the 
storming of Monterey and bore a distinguished part at 
11 



162 Military Heroes of the United States. 

the battle of Buena Vista. After the close of the Mex- 
ican war, after i)erforming various services at different 
points, he was an instructor at West Point for about three 
years. He then served with distinction in the West, and 
in 1860, asked for and obtained a short leave of absence — 
the first he had asked for during a service of twenty years. 
Although a native of Virginia, Thomas remained faith- 
ful to the Union instead of following the fortunes of his 
state, and was soon in command of a brigade, with the 
rank of colonel. During the early part of the Civil War, 
he fought under Rosecrans and Grant, and in 1862 was 
made a major-general. He distinguished himself at Mill 
Spring and at Shiloh, and then commanded the post at 
Nashville. He became the faithful friend and adviser of 
his superior officers and was known as one on whom they 
could rely. Rosecrans gave him great credit at Murfrees- 
boro, and then came the battle of Chickamauga, where his 
bold stand saved the Union army from destruction. It 
was his rock-like firmness that saved the army from a ter- 
rible beating and from being driven out of Tennessee. At 
a critical time during the battle, and when reinforcements 
were badly needed, Thomas sat upon his horse watching 
the advance of heavy columns, away to his left. Not 
knowing whether they were friends or foes, he raised his 
glass and in silence watched the advancing troops. Turn- 
ing to his staff after a few moments, he said: " Take 
my glass, some of you whose horse is steady, and tell me 
what you can see." One of his officers thought he could 
make out the " Stars and Stripes." " Thomas caught up 
his glass again, and watched the advancing column with 
deepening anxiety. Suddenly the glass was lowered, and a 



George H. Thomas. 



163 



load was lifted from liis heart. A light wind caught the 
standards and flapped ont every fold to its fullest extent, 
and the sunlight, breaking through the clouds of dust, 
shone on the red and blue bars and the white crescent of 
Gordon Granger's battle-flag." None too soon, though; but 









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General George H. Thomas. 

Thomas held his ground as the battle ebbed and flowed, 
and fell back suddenly during the night, unmolested by 
the enemy. 

Later, General Bragg invested Chattanooga, which 



164 Military Heroes of the United States. 

Thomas was holding. Grant sent word to hold out to the 
last. Thomas' answer was: "I will hold the town till we 
starve!" 

In 1864, Thomas commanded the Army of the Cum- 
berland under General Sherman. He decided the fate of 
Atlanta, and then Sherman left him to whip Hood and 
cover his rear during his march to the sea. Sherman 
afterwards said: "If Thomas had not whipped Hood at 
Nashville, six hundred miles away, my plans would have 
failed, and I would have been denounced the world over. 
But I knew General Thomas and the troops under his 
command and never for a moment doubted a favorable 
result." 

Thomas' task was to improvise an army with which to 
repel Hood's invasion of Tennessee, and he did it. In the 
two days' fighting at Nashville, he completely smashed 
the Confederate general. After the magnificent charge 
of the second day, a captured Confederate general said, 
" Why, sir, it was the most wonderful thing I ever wit- 
nessed. I saAv your men coming and held my fire — a full 
brigade, too — until they were in close range, could almost 
see the whites of their eyes, and then poured my volley right 
into their faces. I supposed, of course, that when the smoke 
lifted, your line would be broken and your men gone; 
but it is surprising, sir, it never staggered them. AMiy, 
they did not even come forward on a run. But right 
along, cool as fate, your line swung up the hill, and your 
men walked right up to and over my works and around 
my brigade before we knew they were upon us. It was 
astonishing, sir, such fighting." 

Thomas was known to his soldiers as old " Major Slow- 




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165 



106 Military IJeroen of ihe Uniied Staies, 

Trot," but they worshiped him. He received a gold 
iriedal from the f^tate of 'J'ennegBee for Iiih victory at Nanh- 
ville, al^^o the thanks of Congrees, and was made a 
major-general in tlie regular army. In 1808, he declined 
the office of lieutenant-general, saying he had done nothing 
to deserve it. llis death occurred at San Francisco, on 
:March 28, 1870. 



JOSEPH HOOKER. 

FIGHTING JOE HOOKKii,*' as he came to he 
\\'ar, wan born at Iladley, ^lansachusetts, Novem- 
called during the PeninHular campaign of the (.'ivil 
ber 13, 1814. lie graduated from West Point in 1837, and 
fought in the Florida and Mexican Wars, being three 
times promoted for gallant conduct. lie resigned his 
commission in 1853, and settled down to the life of a 
farmer, in the West. He entered the army again in 1801, 
and soon became a brigadier-general. A year ]iii<'f }i^ was 
promoted to be a major-general. 

Hooker made himself conspicuous for braver}-, flash, 
and daring throughout Mc(;iellan's operations before 
Richmond, and in the Maryland campaign that followed 
he participated actively, especially at South Mountain. 
He was wounded at Antietam and compelled to retire from 
the field. He commanded a division under Burnside at 
Fredericksburg, and succeeded to the command of the 
Army of the Potomac after the resignation of that gen- 
eral. 



Joseph Hooker. 



16i 



When Hooker assumed comniand of the Army of the 
Potomac it was in a despondent state, as was the cotmtry 
itself, but he succeeded in reorganizing it and took the 
field with a splendid force in a high state of discipline. 




Heavj- rains and swoILtii s:ivaiiis ^v^rc agiiinst luin on 
his war to Chanet'llorsTille, but he made his ci?Iebrated 
*' mud march " of thirtv-seTen miles, encumbered with 
baggage and artiUerv. crossed two rivers and reached 
Chanc^UorsTille on April 30, lS6o. The bloody battle 



168 Militanj Heroes of the United States. 

that ensued was precipitated by the Confederate General 
Jackson, who fell upon the right of Hooker's army. The 
corps that was attacked was preparing supper and arrang- 
ing for the niglit. Suddenly, Jackson's men made the 
attack and drove the Union forces before them. A fur- 
ious conflict took place later, when Hooker attempted to 
recover the field. He was wounded and for a time was 
unable to direct the operations of his troops. His army 
was divided, while that of the enemy was not, and Hooker 
was obliged to retreat. He resigned his command on June 
27, 1863, and General Meade took his place. 

Later in the year, PTooker was at Chattanooga, and dur- 
ing the " battle above the clouds," won imperishable re- 
nown. Xo battle was ever like it. The impossible was 
attempted. At the word "Forward!" the troops rushed 
forward over ravines, felled trees, and rough boulders; on 
and always up, lost in the clouds tliat wrapped Lookout 
Mountain in their fleecy folds, until the foe was driven 
from the summit, and the Union flag unfurled fifteen hun- 
dred feet above the Tennessee. " At two o'clock, a glow- 
ing line of lights glittered obliquely across the breast of 
Lookout. It was the Federal autograph scored along the 
mountain. They were our camp-fires. Our wounded lay 
there througli all the dreary nights of rain, unrepining 
and content. Our unharmed heroes lay there upon their 
arms. Our dead lay there, *" and surely they slept well.' " 

Hooker was with Sherman in his march to the sea. His 
last great contest with the Confederates was near Peach 
Tree Creek, where he " bore the brunt of the shock." He 
resigned in August, 1864, when an officer inferior in rank 
was promoted over him, but later he commanded different 



Joseph Hooker, 169 

departments in the army and was mustered out of the 
volunteer service in September, 1866. Two years later 
he was breveted major-general in the regular army and 
later, retired to private life. He died at Garden City, 
^^ew York, on October 31, 1879. 



GEOEGE G. MEADE. 

GEOEGE WASHINGTON, the first commander--in 
burg,^' was born on December 30, 1815, at Cadiz, 
Spain, where his father at that time was United 
States consul. His grandfather was a patriotic merchant 
of Philadelphia, and at one time, when it was sorely 
needed, made the Continental Government a present of 
several thousand dollars. When but twenty years of age, 
Meade graduated from West Point, served for a while 
against the Indians in Florida, and then resigned his 
commission, becoming a civil engineer. He entered the 
army again in 1840, and during the Mexican War served 
on the staffs of both General Taylor and General Scott. 
The city of Philadelphia gave him a sword of honor upon 
his return from the campaign. 

Meade engaged in the Civil War, and was made a briga- 
dier-general after the battle of Bull Eun. He was with 
McClellan during the Peninsular and Maryland campaigns. 
He especially distinguished himself at Antietam, having 
two horses shot under him in a headlong charge against 



ITO Military Heroes of fhe United States. 

the Confederates in the early part of the battle, in which 
he was wounded. In 1863, he was given the command 
of the Army of the Potomac, having been made a major- 
general previously. 

In June, 1863, both the Union and Confederate armies 
were north of the Potomac, and the whole country held its 
breath as it waited for the result of the combat that must 
soon follow. On one side was the noble Lee, the idol of 
the South, with his superbly disciplined infantry; the hard 
riding troopers of Stuart; " Stonewall " Jackson's old com- 
mand under Ewell; A. P. Hill, a most gallant officer; Long- 
street, with a magnificent force, including Hood's Texans, 
and Pickett with his Virginians. These and other gallant 
Confederates fought for the South in the greatest battle 
ever known on the continent. 

Against them was Meade, a modest, faithful soldier, a 
man who commanded respect, and under him were Rey- 
nolds, the brilliant; the knightly Hancock; brave Sickles; 
Sykes, the reliable; Howard, eminent for piety; Slocum, 
the senior of many in rank, and scores of other brave and 
determined fighters. 

The story of the three days of desperate fighting when 
the North and the South grappled at Gettysburg, requires 
volumes for the telling. The first day's combat opened 
in the forenoon of July 1. The Confederates advanced 
and engaged Reynolds' corps on the western side of the 
town. Reynolds rode forward to superintend his troops 
in person, but was immediately killed by a rifle bullet. 
The command then devolved on General Doubleday, but 
he was not able to check the Confederate advance. The 
scene of the fighting was a small open valley, consisting 




General George G. Meade. 



171 



172 Militarij J [crocs of the United Stales. 

of ploughed fields, bounded by thickly wooded uplands. 
Howard, riding in advance of his troops, then came up and 
took command, but still the Southerners gained ground. 
Then Meade sent Hancock to take the chief command, and 
with Howard he formed the broken corps afresh on the 
summit of the rising ground. The Confederates occupied 
the town that night. 

General Meade arrived at Cemetery Ridge at one o'clock 
in the morning, and inspected the field. In the afternoon 
the Confederates advanced, and Longstreet attacked the 
Union left, commanded by Sickles. In spite of all his resi?t- 
ance, Sickles was driven back with terrible loss, and he 
himself was severely wounded. lUit Meade strengthened 
his lines and his guns did terrible execution, and at this 
point the Southern troops were compelled to retire. 
Ewell attacked Cemetery Hill and demonstrations were 
made against other portions of the Union line, but these 
attempts were not well supported, and the result of the 
day's operations was that the Confederates were driven 
back with enormous loss. Meade's troops also suffered se- 
verely. 

The struggle began again on the morning of July 3, 
this time on the left of the Confederate line. All the 
strength of the enemy was gathered up and thrown in 
one last, desperate effort on the Union forces. At half- 
past twelve a furious cannonade burst from more than 
one hundred guns, forming the batteries of Longstreet 
and Hill. Ewell's guns were directed against the slopes 
of Cemetery Hill. The Union guns blazed in reply and 
for two hours the narrow valley thundered and roared with 
an infernal interchange of death. Great limbs were 



174 Military Heroes of the United States. 

torn from trees; rocks were splintered, and death and 
destruction scattered far and wide. Then Pickett's Vir- 
ginians charged. In a vast, surging, gray wave, they tore 
up the slope and gained the crest, only to be beaten back 
by the blue lines blazing with fire. It was a combat of 
giants. Battle flags were sliot to earth quicker than men 
could pick them up. The gray coats dropped by hundreds 
as regiments and brigades came to the assistance of those 
who defended the crest of the line, and Pickett made his 
way back under cover of the friendly smoke. Desultory 
engagements took place in other parts of the field, but the 
battle of Gettysburg was over and a thrill of hope ran 
through the North, " such as had not been known since the 
beginning of the long and cruel war." The tide had at last 
turned, but not until Virginia had ridden on the topmost 
wave and been dashed on the rocks of Gettysburg. 
• After the battle of Gettysburg, Congress promoted 
Meade to the rank of brigadier-general in the regular army. 
He remained, however, at the head of the Army of the Po- 
tomac and enjoyed the confidence of Grant, who was then 
Lieutenant-General of the armies. After the surrender of 
Lee's army, Meade was made a major-general in the regular 
army and later was given command of the military division 
of the Atlantic, with headquarters in Philadelphia. He 
died in that city on November 6, 1872, in a house which 
his gratified countrymen had presented to him. 



George A. Custer. 175 



GEOKGE A. CUSTER. 

GEOEGE AEMSTRONG CUSTEE, the dashing car- 
alryman whose name is everywhere associated with 
brave and chivalrous daring, was born on December 
5th, 1839, in the little village of New Eumley, Ohio. As a 
boy he was a sturdy little fellow with flaxen hair, amiable 
in his disposition, and very fond of playing soldier. When 
quite young he made his home with a relative in Monroe, 
Michigan, and in the schools of that town acquired an edu- 
cation that qualified him for a successful examination to 
the Military Academy at AYest Point. He entered in 
1857, made rapid progress in his studies and especially ex- 
celled in horsemanship. 

After graduating from West Point, Custer reported for 
duty at Washington. He was at once made the bearer of 
despatches to General McDowell and assigned to Company 
G, Second Cavalry. Later he served on the staff of Gen- 
eral Kearney. His first actual fighting was in a skirmish 
with a detachment of Confederates, whom he routed at 
the head of his company. Later, he obtained leave of 
absence and visited his old home at Monroe. While there 
he indulged some of the habits he had acquired in the 
field — he became intoxicated and was seen on the street 
in that condition. His sorrowing sister reproved him so 
judiciously, however, that the heart of the young man 
was touched. It was the turning point in his life. He 
made a solemn pledge not to taste a drop of intoxicating 



176 Military Heroes of the Uiiifed States. 

spirit as long as he lived. He kept liis word and became 
a sincere Christian. 

Returning to the field, Custer performed various duties. 
He served on the staff of General AV. F. Smith and was 
in charge of balloon reconnoissances. On one occasion he 
crossed the Chickahominy Eiver to make observations, and 
on his return, wet, muddy and untidy, was summoned to 
General McClellan's presence. They conversed for a short 
time and the General offered him a place on his staff. Cus- 
ter accepted gladly and perf(^med splendid services in that 
capacity. 

Many incidents are related of Custer's personal bravery 
and daring. By a dashing movement he fell upon the 
celebrated " Louisiana Tigers," captured them and their 
colors and returned in safety. He served through the 
Peninsular campaign and was continually performing bril- 
liant feats. On one occasion, he heard the young bugler 
cry out, "Captain! Captain! here are two ^ Secesh ' after 
me." He captured one and sent him to the rear, but the 
other set off with Custer after him. The man would not 
surrender, so Custer was obliged to shoot him. His spoils 
were a splendid horse, saddle and trappings, and a mag- 
nificent sword. 

Custer was afterwards on General Pleasanton's staff, 
and at the fight at Aldie with Stuart's cavalry he won 
the star of a brigadier-general. Kilpatrick, Douty and 
Custer led the charge. Douty was killed, Kilpatrick's 
horse was shot under him, but Custer bore a charmed life 
and led his men to victory. He was afterwards made com- 
mander of the Michigan cavalry brigade. At Gettysburg, 
he charged at the head of a company and drove the enemy 



178 Military Heroes of fhe United States. 

before him. When Lee surrendered, his first flag of truce 
was sent to Custer. 

After the war, Custer, who had been mustered out as 
a major-general of volunteers, was, in the reorganization 
of the army, made lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh Cav- 
alry, and in 1867, was sent to the plains. He became 
a great hunter and had many perilous adventures fighting 
the Indians. His success as an Indian fighter exceeded 
that of any officer in the army. His last battle was fought 
on the Little Big Horn River, June 25, 1876. By the 
blunders and incompetency of his subordinates, Custer 
found himself surrounded by swarms of Indians under 
Chief Rain-in-the-Face. The heroic band made a desper- 
ate stand, but every man was killed. Custer was the last 
to fall. He was shot by Rain-in-the-Face himself, in 
fulfilment of a vow he had made. All were buried on the 
spot where they fell and a monument to their memory 
was erected by the Government, bearing their names and 
titles. Latei Custer's remains were removed to West 
Point and interred in the United States cemetery. Of 
Custer it has been said, " Truth and sincerity, honor and 
bravery, tenderness and sympathy, unassuming piety and 
temperance, were the mainsprings of Custer, the man." 



Elmer E. Ellsworth. 179 



ELMER E. ELLSWORTH. 

THE pure and noble manhood of Elmer Ephraim Ells- 
worth and his martyrdom early in the Civil War 
have endeared him to the people of the .United 
States. He was born on April 23, 1836, at Mechanics- 
ville, New York. His education was acquired at common 
schools. He then learned the trade of a printer and later 
set up in business for himself. Through the dishonesty 
of others he failed in business, but he did not complain 
and began the study of law, earning a meagre living by 
copying papers and documents whenever he could obtain 
such employment. He had a terrible struggle with pov- 
erty, but would accept no favors or courtesies that he 
feared he would be unable to return. 

He is described as having a voice which was " deep and 
musical, and instantly attracted attention. His form, 
though slight, was very compact and commanding; the 
head statuesquely poised and crowned with a luxuriance 
of curling black hair; a hazel eye, bright though serene, 
the eye of a gentleman as well as a soldier; a nose such as 
you see on Eoman medals; a light mustache just shading 
the lips that were continually curving into the sunniest 
smiles." 

Previous to the Civil War, he became interested in 
military science and developed into an enthusiast in that 
direction. He saw the defects in the militia drill of the 
United States, and set about demonstrating his theories. 



180 Military Heroes of the United States. 

He was a superl) fencer, lioldiiig his own against the most 
dasliing swordsmen of two worlds. lie was a magnificent 
shot witli a revolver. He organized the United States 
Zouave Cadets of Chicago, in 1859, clothing and drilling 
them according to his own ideas. " He drilled these 
young men for about a year, at short intervals. His dis- 
cipline was very severe and rigid. The slightest exhibi- 
tion of intemperance or licentiousness was punished by 
instant degradation and expulsion. He struck from the 
rolls at one time twelve of his best men for breaking the 
rule of total abstinence. His moral power over them was 
perfect and absolute. Any one of them would have died 
for him!'^ He also organized and drilled other companies 
at different points. He gave exhibition drills at fairs 
and at New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington. 
New York's crack organization was vanquished by the 
Ellsworth Zouaves and their fame spread throughout the 
country. 

At one time Ellsworth studied law in the office of Abra- 
ham Lincoln at Springfield, Illinois. When the President- 
elect went to Washington for his inauguration, Ellsworth 
was among his escort. When the Civil War broke out, 
he rushed to New York and raised a regiment among the 
New York firemen. He recruited, drilled and had them 
in Washington within three weeks. His regiment was 
the idol of the public and he personally attended to every 
detail of regimental business. 

On the night of May 23, 1861, Ellsworth and his Zou- 
aves crossed the Potomac and entered Alexandria. His 
mission was to take possession of the telegraph office and 
to stop railroad communication. Observing the flag that 




Elmer E. Ellsworth. 



181 



182 Military Heroes of the United States. 

was flying over the Marshall IlonsCj Ellsworth entered the 
hotel with a detachment of his men, and asked a partially 
undressed man whom he met what flag it was. The man 
replied that he knew nothing about it. Ellsworth then 
ran up-stairs to the roof and cut down the flag. On his 
way back a man shot him in the breast with a double- 
barrelled gun. , Private Brownell immediately shot the 
man, who proved to be one Jackson, the proprietor of the 
hotel, and the man of whom Ellsworth had inquired re- 
garding the flag. An eye witness of the murder said: 
" The chaplain turned him over and I stooped and called 
his name aloud, at which, I think he murmured inarticu- 
lately. Winser and I lifted the l)ody with all care, and 
laid it upon a bed in a room near by. The rebel flag, 
stained with his blood, we laid about his feet." 

Ellsworth's remains were removed to Washington and 
laid in state in the White House. On May 25, funeral 
obsequies were held amid the tolling of bells and universal 
grief. Honors were paid the body of the young martyr 
in the cities through' which it passed on its "^ay to the 
home of his parents at Mechanicsville, where it was in- 
terred. 



Rohert E. Lee. 183 



ROBERT E. LEE. 

ROBERT EDWAED LEE, a distinguished general 
and the idol of the Southern Confederacy, was born 
on January 19, 1807, at Stratford House, in West- 
moreland County, Virginia. His father was General 
Henry Lee, the famous " Light Horse Harry," of Revolu- 
tionary times. His mother was Matilda, daughter of 
Philip Ludwell Lee. No brighter name appears in Amer- 
ican history than that of Lee. Richard Lee, an ancestor, 
settled in Virginia during the reign of Charles I. and 
occupied a prominent and honorable position in colonial af- 
fairs, and his descendants have maintained the reputation 
of the family name. 

Young Lee was but eight years of age when the British 
ravaged the southern coast and burned the city of Wash- 
ington. He was twelve years old when his father died, 
and eighteen when he entered the United States Military 
Academy at West Point. His conduct during his entire 
course at this institution was exemplary in the highest 
degree. He never used intoxicating liquor or tobacco; he 
never received a reprimand or a demerit, and he stood at 
the head of his class from first to last. He graduated 
on July 4, 1829, and was at once appointed to the corps 
of Topographical Engineers. He made a brilliant mar- 
riage in 1832, and in course of time two of his three 
sons became major-generals in the Confederate army. 

Lieutenant Lee continued to follow his chosen profes- 



184 Military Heroes of the United States. 

sion, and in 1838^ reached the grade of captain. He sup- 
erintended many important operations in different parts 
of the country, and when the Mexican War broke out, was 
made chief of engineers under General Scott. He served 
in that war with distinction and was twice promoted. Gen- 
eral Scott esteemed him highly, and in after years said: 
" Lee is the greatest military genius in America." 




In 1852, Colonel Lee was superintendent of the Mili- 
tary Academy at AYest Point. He held this position for 
three years. When John Brown captured the United 
State arsenal at Harper's Ferry, in 1859, Lee was sent to 
recover the arsenal. With a detachment of marines, he 
attacked and captured Brown and his party, and turned 
them over to the civil authorities. He then served in 
Ttxas, but in 1860, was in Virginia on leave of absence. 




General Robert E. Lee. 



185 



186 Military Heroes of the United States. 

Lee early cast in his fortunes with his native state. 
Untiring efforts were made to retain him in the old ser- 
vice, but he said," How can I draw my sword upon Vir- 
ginia — my native state." He resigned from the United 
States army April 20, 18G1, and was at once appointed 
commander of the Virginia forces. It was not without 
a long and bitter struggle that he left the flag under which 
he had fought from early manhood, to serve under the 
" Stars and Bars," but he held that his first duty was to 
his state; she had called her children to take up arms in 
her defence, and her cry could not go unheeded. 

For a time he held no important command, but on June 
3, 1862, he was made commander of the Confederate army 
of Northern Virginia. This position he held throughout 
the war. In the same month in which he assumed com- 
mand of this army, Lee administered blow after blow upon 
McClellan, who was opposed to him, and forced him to re- 
treat to the James Eiver. McClellan, however, stood his 
ground at Malvern Hill, and Lee's impetuous columns 
were beaten back at that time. Lee then joined " Stone- 
wall " Jackson and whipped Pope on the old battlefield of 
Bull Run. He next invaded Maryland, and Jackson cap- 
tured Harper's Ferry. Then followed the battle of Stone 
Mountain and the bloody field of Antietam, after which 
he retreated across the Potomac. At Fredericksburg, Lee 
administered a crushing defeat to the Union forces under 
Burnside, and at Chancellorsville, while he won a victory, 
it cost him the life of Jackson and ten thousand gallant 
men. 

Lee's invasion of Pennsylvania resulted in the battle of 
Gettysburg, which was a victory for the Union forces. 



188 yiiVdnry Heroes of ihe United Sfaies. 

Lee withdrew up the Valley of Virginia, followed by 
Meade. In 1864, Grant moved towards Kichmond. Lee 
struck him a terrible blow in the densely wooded region, 
known as the Wilderness. The combat was one of the 
l)loodiest of the war, and lasted for three days, but was 
indecisive in its results. Lee won at Spottsylvania Conrt 
Honse, and repelled Grant's attack upon his entrench- 
ments at Cold Harbor, but was compelled to retreat from 
Petersburg. The Confederate army was brave as ever, 
but was w^asted by sickness and death. The South was 
exhausted, not beaten, and the end came at Appomattox. 
Lee and Grant met at a plain country house there and ar- 
ranged the terms whereby the gallant army of Northern 
Virginia laid down its arms. Lee said to them: " We have 
fought through the war together. I have done the best 
I could for you." 

After the war. General Lee became president of Wash- 
ington College, Lexington, Va. His death occurred at that 
place October 12, 1870. 



Thomas J. Jackson, 189 



THOMAS J. JACKSOK 

THOMAS JOI^ATHAN JACKSON, commonly known 
as " Stonewall " Jackson, was born at Clarksburg, 
Ya., January 21, 1824. He was left an orphan at an 
early age, and from then until he was seventeen years old, 
he worked on the farm of an uncle. He went to school 
when he could and studied hard. He was prompt and 
faithful in all his duties and won the admiration of all 
around him for the sterling qualities he manifested. 
When but sixteen years old, the people of Lewis County 
made him constable of the county, and in spite of his 
youth, he discharged the duties of the office with success. 
A^Hien seventeen years of age, Jackson applied for and 
obtained an appointment to the United States Military 
Academy at West Point. He entered in 1842, studied 
hard, and graduated four years later with distinction. 
He was noted for the thorough mastery of any subject 
he attempted. After graduation he was appointed to the 
First Artillery. This regiment was then serving under 
General Taylor in Mexico, but Jackson did not join it in 
time to see service until the following year, when he par- 
ticipated in the siege of Vera Cruz, under General Scott. 
For his services there, he was promoted to a first lieuten- 
antcy. During the campaign that resulted in the fall of 
the city of Mexico, Jackson so distinguished himself that 
he reached the rank of major — a series of promotions un- 
equalled by any other officer in that army. After the 



100 Military Heroes of ike United States. 

close of the war Jackson's health was so impaired that he 
resigned his commission. In 1851, he became a professor 
in the Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington, also an 
instructor in artillery tactics. It is said that Major Jack- 
son was not as popular as some of the other professors, 
bivfc he possessed the respect of his pupils. He had a 
wonderful memory, and in listening to a recitation would 
seldom use a book. He became an active and zealous 
member of the Presbyterian Church and was honored for 
his piety. 

The opening of the Civil War found Jackson ready to 
share the fortunes of Virginia. Like Lee, he came to the 
deliberate conclusion that his state had the right to de- 
mand his services. His first duties were in drilling the 
raw troops that poured into Richmond from all parts of 
the state. In June, 1861, he . destroyed the railroad at 
Martinsburg, and later checked the advance of the Union 
forces at Falling Waters. At the Battle of Bull Run, 
Jackson, who was then a brigadier-general, led the advance 
of Johnston's army and was slightly wounded. It was 
here that Jackson gained his name of " Stonewall." He 
had charged the Union lines and saved a Confederate brig- 
ade. Its leader then called to his own men: " Look yon- 
der! there is Jackson standing like a stonewall. Let us 
determine to die here, and we will conquer. Follow me!" 
This appeal was repeated throughout the army until the 
name " Stonewall " was universally applied to Jackson. 
He was made a major-general after this battle, and placed 
in command of the Valley of Virginia. Jackson's work 
in the valley was arduous; he had to dispute the advance 
of Fremont, Banks and McDowell, but the result of the 







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General Thomas J. Jackson ("Stonewall"). 



191 



192 Military Heroes of the United States. 

operations there was that Banks was whipped at Winches- 
ter and fled across tlie Potomac. Large quantities of mili- 
tary stores fell into the hands of the Confederates. 

In the Shenandoah Yalle}^ Jackson successfully fought 
armies much larger than his own, and the campaign closed 
with the battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic. He 
then joined Lee and decided the battle of Cold Harbor by 
his timely arrival. He also took a leading part in the 
battles of White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill. When 
Lee invaded Maryland, Jackson led the advance. He in- 
vested and captured Harper's Ferry and then took part in 
the terrible fight at Antietam. He commanded the right 
wing at Fredericksburg and beat back Franklin's corps, 
repulsing it with heavy loss. Jackson was conspicuous 
for bravery during this battle, and at one time, when the 
conflict was raging, he rode a short distance in front of his 
line; took off his hat, and with his right hand raised to 
heaven, prayed the God of battles to be with the army that 
day. 

At Chancellorsville, Jackson grappled w4th Slocum and 
then proposed to Lee a movement upon Hooker's right. 
" Unaware of impending danger, Howard's corps was pre- 
paring supper and arranging for the night. Suddenly, 
with a yell that arose above the bugle calls and outpost 
fire, the flower of Lee's army fell upon Devens, at the 
extreme of the Union line. Amid the pandemonium of 
sound, the Unionists flew in a panic before the irresistible 
onrush of the Southerners. In a turbulent tide they 
streamed to the rear and along the road to Chancellors- 
ville, their commander severely wounded; one third their 
number were captured or disabled. The contagion of panic 




193 



l^-t Military Heroes of the United States. 

s])rcad to Scluirz's and Yon Stcinwchrs divisions; the few 
regiments who stood their ground crumbled before the 
assault of the gray-coated legions. With half their num- 
ber dead or dying, they joined their flying comrades. 
Through the summer twilight, what was once the gallant 
Eleventh still fled along the dusty roads." 

While reconnoitering for a second attack, Jackson and 
his escort were mistaken for Union cavalry and fired upon 
by his own men. Two of his staff were killed and Jack- 
son received a bullet in the right hand and two in the left 
arm. He was carried to the rear under a fearful fire from 
the Union lines. One of his litter bearers was killed, and 
the litter fell to the ground. His arm was amputated, and 
after the operation he seemed to revive, but pneumonia 
set in, the result of exposure a few nights before. On 
the night in question one of his aides offered him a cape, 
as the general had no protection from the cold. Jackson 
accepted it, but in the night arose and covered the young 
officer with it as he lay asleep, passing the remainder of 
the night without covering for himself. 

General Jackson died on May 10, 1863, and among his 
last words were, " Let us cross over the river, and rest 
under the shade of the trees." 



Nelson -A. Miles. 



195 



NELSON A. MILES. 



■l^ELSON APPLETON MILES was born at Westmin- 
_J\ ster, Massachusetts, August 8, 1839. His father 
was Daniel Miles, a sterling, resolute man, a de- 
scendant of Eev. John Miles, a Welsh clergyman, an Indian 
fighter and a schoolmas- 
ter. His grandfather and 
great - grandfather took 
part in the battles of Lex- 
ington and other engage- 
ments during the Kevo- 
lutionary War. His 
mother, Mary Custis, was 
a noble Christian woman, 
a descendant of William 
Curtis, who settled in 
Boston in 1632. 

General Miles' own ac- 
count of his childhood 
tells us that it was an 
ideal one. " From my 
earliest recollection I 
have felt at home on 
horseback." He adds: 
" I first rode in front of my father with his arms about 
me; afterward behind him, holding on with my arms; later 
alone, clinging to the mane. I was given a horse and rode 
him and managed him at the age of six. I became at an 




General Nelson A. Miles. 



19G MUiiarij Heroes of {he United States. 

early age passionately fond of coasting, skating, ball-play- 
ing, swimming, Iiunting and trapping, and many a day 
was delightfully spent in exploring the surrounding coun- 
try, with a favorite dog as my only companion." 

Miles' education was derived from the district school 
in the neighborhood of his father's farm, and later at an 
academy. He exhibited a tendency for a military life, 
but no opportunity offered itself in that direction, and at 
sixteen years of age he engaged in mercantile pursuits in 
the city of Boston. He, however, found time to study 
military history and art and devoted a portion of his time 
to military drill. 

Early in 1861, Miles recruited a company of volunteers, 
was chosen captain, commissioned by the governor of the 
state, and duly mustered into the United States service. 
He was then a smooth-faced young man of twenty-one 
years, eager for service against the enemies of his country. 
He began his military service, however, as a first lieuten- 
ant in the Twenty-second regiment of Massachusetts Vol- 
unteers, commanded by Colonel Henry Wilson, who after- 
wards became vice-president of the United States. The 
reason for his reduction in rank was that the governor 
recalled his commission, and gave it to a political friend, 
alleging Miles' youth as his reason for the acton. Miles 
would not abandon the service he had undertaken, and, 
though feeling the injustice deeply, started upon that ca- 
reer that brought him eventually to the proud position of 
general-in-chief of the armies of the United States. 

In 1862, Miles was the colonel of the Sixty-first New 
York A^olunteers; became a brigadier-general in May, 1864; 
a major-general the following year. He served with dis- 



Nelson A. Miles. 197 

tinguished bravery at Williamsburg and the terrible fight- 
ing at Seven Pines, was wounded at Fair Oaks, and partici- 
pated with great credit in the other battles of the Peninsu- 
lar campaign. He was seriously wounded at Fredericksburg 
and again at Chancellorsville, where his hurt was supposed 
to be mortal. He recovered, however, and took an active 
part in the campaign of 1864 and also that of 1865. For 
a time, he was in command of the Second Army Corps, the 
largest body of men ever commanded by a young man of 
twenty-five years. After the Civil War, General Miles was 
commissioned a colonel and brevet-major-general in the reg- 
ular army, and in 1869, commanded the First United States 
Infantry. 

" Thenceforward," in his own words again, " I continued 
to serve west of the Missouri until the fall of 1890, a per- 
iod of nearly twenty-two years." Afterwards, he was sent 
to Europe to observe the Turco-Grecian war as the repre- 
sentative of the United States, and in the same capacity 
was present at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, in 1897. 

General Miles successfully conducted many Indian cam- 
paigns. He prevented many Indian wars by a judicious 
and humane settlement of difficulties, without displaying 
military force, and was thanked by many states and ter- 
ritories. 

In 1898, when the United States declared war with 
Spain on account of the cruelties practiced by the latter 
nation in Cuba, General Miles was at the head of the 
armies of the United States. He did not take the field, 
however, until July 7th, when he sailed with reinforce- 
ments for the army in Cuba. He arrived before Santiago 
four days later and assumed charge of affairs. At that 



198 Military Heroes of the Uniied States. 

time, negotiations were going on between General Shaf ter 
and the Spanish General Toral, relative to the surrender 
of the latter's army and the citj^ of Santiago. Miles at 
once took the matter in hand, having full authority from 
the Secretary of War to do so. Shatter, who had bungled 
the whole campaign, was afraid of being superseded and 
was inclined to make trouble. Eventually Miles sent him 
the following frank and manly telegram, which settled the 
matter. Miles was then at Plaza del Este: 

" Have no desire and have carefully avoided any ap- 
pearance of superseding you. Your command is a part of 
the United States Army which I have the honor to com- 
mand, having been duly assigned thereto, and directed 
by the President to go wherever I thought my presence 
required, and give such general directions as I thought 
best concerning military matters, and especially to go to 
Santiago for a specific purpose. 

" You will also notice that the orders of the Secretary 
of War, of July 13, left the matter to my discretion. I 
should regret that any event should cause either yourself 
or any part of your command to cease to be a part of 
mine." 

The matter referred to was the surrender of General 
Toral, who had stated that so long as he had rations and 
ammunition, he would have to fight in order to maintain 
the honor of the Spanish army. Miles informed him that 
he had already done so, and that further efforts would 
result in the w^anton sacrifice of human life. Toral sur- 
rendered, and the American forces entered Santiago on 
July 17. Miles did not receive the surrender himself, gen- 
erously leaving that honor to Shatter. From the moment 



Nelson A. Miles. 199 

he arrived in Cuba lie was charged with the responsibility 
of ordering an attack upon the Spanish entrenchments — ■ 
which would have cost several thousand lives — or of with- 
holding it. No greater discretion was ever given to any 
general commanding an army. He was also authorized 
to receive the surrender of the Spanish forces, but he al- 
lowed the honor to pass to another. 

General Miles took charge of the army that invaded 
Porto Eico. The advance guard reached the port of 
Guanica on July 25. The campaign was brief and pecu- 
liar, the Spanish forces offering a stubborn resistance, while 
the inhabitants welcomed the invading army with open 
hands. A few days after the first landing, General Miles 
telegraphed the War Department in part: 

" Spanish troops are retreating from southern part of 
Porto Eico. Ponce and port have a population of fifty 
thousand now under American flag. The populace re- 
ceived the troops and saluted the flag with wild enthusi- 
asm. Navy has several prizes, also seventy lighters. Eail- 
way stock, partly destroyed, now restored. Telegraph 
communication also being restored. Cable instruments 
destroyed. Have sent to Jamaica for others. This is a 
prosperous and beautiful country. The army will soon 
be in the mountain region; weather delightful; troops in 
the best of health and spirits! anticipate no insurmount- 
able difficulties in the future. Eesults thus far have been 
accomplished without the loss of a single life." 

General Miles issued a proclamation to the people of 
Porto Eico, in which he assured them that " The chief 
aim of the American military forces will be to overthrow 
the authority of Spain and give the people of your beau- 



200 Military Heroes of the United States. 

tif 111 island the largest measure of liberty consistent with 
this military occupation/' Town after town surrendered 
to the Americans, and on August 28 General Miles in- 
formed those under his command that hostilities had been 
suspended. This information did not reach General Schwan 
until two days later, and meanwhile that officer was en- 
gaged with some Spanish forces. Upon receipt of the 
news, he sent a flag of truce to the enemy's line informing 
the officer in command that peace negotiations were nearly 
concluded. The Spaniard would not believe it, however, 
until he had communicated with the governor-general at 
San Juan. VThen he was informed from there that the 
information was really correct, hostilities were suspended 
in reality. General Miles returned to the United States 
and resumed his duties at Washington. 



Joseph Wheeler. 



201 



JOSEPH WHEELER. 



JOSEPH WHEELEE was born in Augusta, Georgia, 
September 10, 1836. He entered the Military 
Academy at West Point in 1854, and graduated four 
years later. He then 
became a lieutenant 
in a cavalry regiment 
and served in New 
Mexico. He cast in 
his fortunes with the 
South in the Civil 
War, and by his 
abilities rose through 
the different grades of 
the service until, in 
1864, he was made the 
senior cavalry general 
of the Confederate 
armies. He was not 
only a fighter, but he 
was a strategist. He 
was audacious, aggres- 
sive, and tireless in his 
duties. At the age of General Joseph Wheeler, 

twenty-six years, he re- 
ceived the thanks of the Confederate Congress for his de- 
fence of Aiken, and the state of South Carolina honored 




202 Military Heroes of the United States. 

him in the same manner for his achievements on that oc- 
casion. His services to the Confederacy were inestimable, 
and the name of the dashing cavalryman was known 
throughout the South as a household word. 

Wheeler fought at Pensacola, and captured General 
Prentiss' brigade at Shiloh. With his gallant troopers he 
turned Rosecrans' flank at Murfreesboro, and at Chicka- 
mauga he was successful in capturing many prisoners, 
wagons and war material. After the battle, he led his 
swift horsemen in a famous raid around the Union rear 
and destroyed twelve hundred wagons loaded with sup- 
plies. He was at Missionary Ridge, and there his sabre 
flashed in the thickest of the fight. Later he thwarted 
Cook's great raid. Sixteen horses were shot under him, 
and he was three times wounded before the war closed. 

After peace between the two warring sections had been 
restored. General ^AHieeler engaged in business in Xew 
Orleans. He declined the position of a professor and com- 
mander of cadets in the Louisiana State seminary. In- 
stead, he became a counsellor-at-law and also a planter. 
Later, he was elected to Congress and served in the House 
of Representatives. 

When the war with Spain broke out, in 1898, General 
Wheeler was summoned to the aid of the Government, 
and, in spite of his advancing years, threw himself into 
the conflict with the same enerjrv he had displayed on the 
battlefields of the Civil War. He commanded the cavalry 
during the brief campaign in Cuba, and by his intelli- 
gent grasp of situations as they arose, contributed very 
largely to the success of the American arms. In that 
dismal time, when many commanders before Santiago felt 



Joseph Wheeler. 203 

that the American forces should retreat, the grand old 
cavalryman refused to entertain the proposition. The 
poorly clad and worse fed heroes were almost at their last 
exertion, and to some it seemed murderous to throw them 
again at the Spanish defences. The monumental blun- 
ders of the campaign had brought these to feel that to 
remain was disaster; to advance was extinction. '' But 
Wheeler had been in dilemnas of a more trying sort in the 
Civil War. He had been surrounded by the bayonets of 
the Federals^ and many a time he had cut his way through 
massive ranks that were quite as formidable as the barbed 
wire bulwarks, stone walls and clay defences of the Span- 
iards.^^ He wrote to the commanding officer, " I presume 
the same influences are being brought to bear on you that 
are working with me. But it will not do. American 
prestige would suffer irretrievably if we give up an inch; 
we must stand firm!'' 

One of the stories told of General Wheeler while in 
Cuba is that, after one of the most trying battles, he or- 
dered that trenches should be dug in anticipation of the 
next conflict. Wheeler was sick at the time, but he rose 
from his cot when an officer said to him: 

" General, I am afraid our men can't dig the trenches." 

"What men?" asked the general. 

" The Cavalry Division," was the reply. 

General Wheeler sat up in bed and began to pull on 
his boots. 

" Send me the man," he directed. 

" What man?" asked the officer. 

" The man who can't dig the trenches." 

" But it is not one man; it is many men. They are just 
played out." 



204 Mililarij Heroes of ihe Uniled Slates. 

" But you can surely iiud one man who says lie can't 
dig the trench. Go get him and bring him to me." 

After a while the ofTicer appeared with a colored trooper. 

" Are you the man who says he can't dig those 
trenches?" 

" I'se one of them, boss, but there's a " 

'^ You go to sleep now, my man, and I'll go up and dig 
your trench for you. When the sun comes up to-morrow 
morning the Spaniards are going to open on us, and every 
man who isn't protected will be in danger of getting killed. 
The trenches have to be dug, and if you are unable to dig 
yours, 111 just go up and dig it for you. Where's your 
pick?" 

For a half a minute the voice of the trooper stuck in 
his throat, and then he said: 

" Boss, you ain't fitten to dig no trenches. If they got 
to be dug, I'll just naturally do it myself. I'm dog tired, 
but that ain't no work for you." 

The negro started off, and Wheeler turned to the officer 
saying: 

" He seems to have changed his mind. Now go find 
me another man who can't dig the trenches." 

The officer saluted and rode off. The trenches were 
dug before morning. 

It is said that the men under him were a study and de- 
light to General Wheeler. They moved at his will like 
so many machines. The fluctuating chances of battle and 
the scarcity of provisions at times recalled days in the 
Confederacy when he made campaigning very serious work 
for the Union armies. 

After Toral's surrender. General Wheeler returned with 



Theodore Roosevelt. 205 

his men to the United States and for a time was stationed 
at the camp at Montauk, Long Island. Always a close 
student^ he now turned to authorship, and prepared a val- 
uable work npon the operations in Cuba. In 1899, he was 
sent to the Philippine Islands to assist in the suppression 
of the Filipino rebellion. 



THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 

THEODOEE EOOSEVELT was born in New York, Oc- 
tober 27, 1858. He graduated from Harvard Uni- 
versity in 1880, and two years later, became a mem- 
ber of the New York Legislature. Later he was a Na- 
tional Civil Service Commissioner, and then the Presi- 
dent of the New York Police Board. In 1897, he was 
appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy, but resigned 
from that important position in 1898, to organize the 
First United States Volunteer Cavalry. 

The Eoosevelt family dates back to 1648, when the 
Dutch were in control of Manhattan Island. Theodore 
Eoosevelt's great-great-grandfather was Isaac Eoosevelt, 
who was a member of the Kingston Convention of 1777, 
which framed the constitution of the state of New York, 
and of the Poughkeepsie convention of 1786, which rati- 
fied the constitution of the United States. A son of his, 
also named Isaac, was a noted inventor, and his name will 
always be associated with that of Eobert Fulton in the 



206 Military Heroes of the United States. 

first practical application of steam to navigation. Theo- 
dore Roosevelt's father was a ])rominent merchant of New- 
York. His brother, Robert B. Roosevelt, was at one time 
minister to the Netherlands, and member of Congress. 

Before his participation in the war with Spain, in 1898, 
Roosevelt had been in public life for many years, and had 
made a name for himself in politics and literature. He 
was always active in reforms, and was successful in dis- 
closing many municipal abuses in New York city. He 
brought his irrepressible energies to the post of Assistant 
Secretary of the Navy, and later, in speaking of his ex- 
periences in that position, said: " One day last spring, 
when it fell to my lot to help get the navy ready for war, 
I and my naval aide. Lieutenant Sharpe, went out buying 
auxiliary cruisers. On this particular day we had spent 
about seven million dollars. It began to rain. ^ Sharpe,' 
said I, * I have only four cents in my pockets. Lend me 
a cent or five cents, will you, so that I can ride home?' 
Sharpe answered, ^I haven't a single cent.' And I answered 
him, ' Never mind, Sharpe; that'^ why we'll beat the Span- 
iards. It isn't every country where two public servants 
could spend seven million dollars and not have a cent in 
their clothes after they were through.' " 

The regiment raised by Roosevelt became known 
throughout the country as the " Rough Riders." It was 
composed of men from all ranks and conditions of life. 
Almost in a day, Roosevelt gathered his motley throng. 
The recruits came from cowboy camps and college halls, 
athletes and dudes, deputy sheriffs from mining camps; 
frontiersmen, men of letters, joined the ranks. Scions of 
aristocratic families performed the menial duties of camp 






Theodore Roosevelt. 



207 



208 Military Heroes of the United States. 

life as gaily as they would participate in a polo match. 
Koosevelt declined the colonelcy of the regiment and asked 
that it might be given to Dr. Leonard Wood. For him- 
self, he accepted the second command. Both he and Col- 
onel Wood drilled the regiment until it arrived at a high 
state of discipline. The camp of instruction was at San 
Antonio, Texas, and from there the men were conveyed 
to Tampa, Florida, and soon sent to Cuba as dismounted 
cavalry. 

On June 22, 1898, the " Kough Riders '' disembarked 
from the transport Yucatan, at Daiquiri, a few miles to 
the eastward of Santiago, where there was an iron pier 
belonging to an American mining company. Getting 
ashore was no easy matter, as the boats were tossed about 
in the surf that dashed against the pier, and the soldiers 
were obliged to throw their rifles onto the dock, and then 
scramble up as best they could. On June 24, the " Rough 
Riders " had their first fight. Every man was eager for it, 
and marched gaily along. The day was swelteringly hot, 
and as they advanced the men threw away their blankets. 
They toiled on, following trails that compelled them to 
move in single file. Prickly cactus bushes and thick un- 
derbrush lined the way and impeded the march. Finally 
a little open space was reached and shots began to be heard 
to the right in the direction that had been taken by Gen- 
eral Young. Shortly the crack of Mauser rifles was heard 
and bullets flew about the heads of the men. " It's up to 
us," shouted Roosevelt. Colonel Wood, as coolly as if 
on parade, commanded, "Deploy! lie down!" The shots 
came thicker and faster. The Spaniards were using 
smokeless powder and could not be seen. 



Theodore Roosevelt. 209 

Roosevelt braved every form of danger; men were drop- 
ping around him^ and he had a narrow escape from a bul- 
let which lodged in a tree near his head. Fourteen men 
were killed and thirty-six wounded before the Spaniards 
w^ere located and driven back. Sergeant Hamilton Fish, 
Jr.^ was the first man killed. Captain Capron was killed 
while shouting an order. After the Spanish fire slackened, 
their troops were seen running to a blockhouse, evidently 
intending to make a stand there. With Roosevelt and Wood 
at their head the "Rough Riders^' pursued them, and poured 
a hail of bullets into them and into the blockhouse as well. 
The blockhouse was abandoned when the Americans were 
within a few hundred yards. Its defenders fled in the di- 
rection of Santiago, and the battle of Las Guasimas was at 
an end. 

In a letter to the Secretary of War, Colonel Wood said: 
" The fight lasted over two hours, and was very hot and 
at rather close range. The Spanish used the volley a 
great deal, while my men fired as individuals. We found 
that instead of fifteen hundred men, we had struck an out- 
post of several thousand. However, to cut a long story 
short, we drove them steadily, but slowly, and finally threw 
them into flight. My men conducted themselves splen- 
didly and behaved like veterans, going up against the 
heavy Spanish lines as though they had the greatest con- 
tempt for them.^^ 

At El Caney, Roosevelt again showed indomitable brav- 
ery and pluck. There was no protection, the charge was 
in the open. A hundred feet in the lead of his men, he 
dashed up the slope in the face of death — men dropping 
at every step. Again the " Rough Riders " drove the 
14 



210 Military Heroes of the United States. 

Spaniards before them, and as they fled coolly picked them 
off. They snffered severely, but no troops ever behaved 
better under fire. Colonel Wood was promoted to be a 
brigadier-general and Roosevelt was made a colonel. 
Roosevelt returned to the United States with his men and 
the famous regiment was mustered out of service. Roose- 
velt took leave of each man personally. No such body of 
men were ever gathered together before. Wherever stor- 
ies of brave and dashing deeds are told, those of Roose- 
velt and his " Rough Riders " will not be omitted. 

In 1899 Theodore Roosevelt was elected governor of the 
state of New York. 



Altemus' Young People's Library. 

PRICK, 50 CKNXS EDAOH. 



ROBINSON CRUSOE : His Life and Strange, 
Surprising Adventures. With 70 beautiful illus- 
trations by Walter Paget. 

"Was there ever anything written that the reader wished longer except 
Robinson Crusoe and Pilgrim's Progress?" — Samuel Johnson. 
** There exists no work, either of instruction or entertainment, which has 
been more generally read, and universally admired." — Walter Scott. 

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDER- 
LAND. With 42 illustrations by John Tenniel. 

"Lewis Carroll's immortal story." — Athenceutn. 

"The most delightful of children's stories. Elegant and delicious non- 
sense." — Saturday Review. 

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS AND 
WHAT ALICE FOUND THERE. (A com- 
panion to Alice in Wonderland. ) With 50 illus- 
trations by John Tenniel. 

" Will fairly rank with the tale of her previous experience." — Daily Tele- 
graph. . . . "Many of Tenniel's designs &re masterpieces of wise ab- 
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Quarterly Review. 

BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. With 
50 full-page and text illustrations. 

Pilgrim's Progress is the most popular story book in the world. With 
the exception of the Bible it has been translated into more languages than 
any other book ever printed. 

A CHILD'S STORY OF THE BIBLE. With 

72 full-page illustrations. 

Tells in simple language and in a form fitted for the hands of the younger 
members of the Christian flock, the tale of God's dealings with his Chosen 
People under the Old Dispensation, with its foreshadowings of the coming 
of that Messiah who was to make all mankind one fold under one Shepherd 

A CHILD'S LIFE OF CHRIST. With 49 
illustrations. 

God has implanted in the infant's heart a desire to hear of Jesus, and chil- 
dren are early attracted and sweetly riveted by the wonderful Story of the 
Master from the Manger to the Throne. 

In this httle book we have brought together from Scripture every incident, 
expression and description, within the verge of their comprehension in the 
effort to weave them into a memorial garland of their Saviour. 



CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND THE DIS- 
COVERY OF AMERICA. With 70 illustrations. 

It is the duty of every American lad to know the story of Christopher 
Columbus. In this book is depicted the story of his life and struggles; of 
his persistent solicitations at the courts of Europe, and his contemptuous 
receptions by the learned Geographical Councils, until his final employment 
by Queen Isabella. Records the day-by-day journeyings while he was 
pursuing his aim and perilous way over the shoreless Ocean, until he " gave 
to Spain a New World." Shows his progress through Spain on the occa- 
sion of his first return, when he was received with rapturous demonstrations 
and more than regal homage. His displacement by the Odjeas, Ovandos 
and Bobadilas ; his last return in chains, and the story of his death in 
poverty and neglect. 

One distinguishing feature about this edition is, that many of the illustra- 
tions are copies from DeBry's and Herrara's histories, which were compiled 
by authority of the King of Spain, showing the Indians, in their life and 
customs, as they appeared to the early discoverers. 

LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE 
UNITED STATES. Compiled from authorita- 
tive sources. With portraits of the Presidents ; 
and also of the unsuccessful candidates for the 
office ; as well as the ablest of the Cabinet officers. 

This book should be in every home and school library. It tells, in an im- 
partial way, the story of the political history of the United States, from the 
first Constitutional convention till the last Presidential nominations, it is 
iust the book for intelligent boys, and it will help to make them intelligent 
and patriotic citizens. 

GULLIVER'S TRAVELS INTO SOME RE- 
MOTE REGIONS OF THE WORLD. With 
50 illustrations. 

In description, even of the most common-place things, his power is often 
perfectly marvellous. Macaulay says of Swift : " Under a plain garb and 
ungainly deportment were concealed some of the choicest gifts that ever 
have been bestowed on any of the children of men, — rare powers of obser- 
vation, brilliant art, grotesque invention, humor of the most austere flavor, 
yet exquisitely delicious, eloquence singularly pure, manly, and per- 
spicuous." 

MOTHER GOOSE'S RHYMES, JINGLES, 
AND FAIRY TALES. With 300 illustrations. 

" In this edition an excellent choice has been made from the standard fic- 
tion of the little ones. The abundant pictures are well drawn and graceful, 
the effect frequently striking and always decorative." — Critic. . . . "Only 
to see the book is to wish to give it to every child one knows." — Queen. 

THE FABLES OF ^SOP. Compiled from 
the best accepted sources. With 62 illustrations. 

The fables of .i^sop are among the ver^' earliest compositions of this kind, 
and probably have never been surpassed for point and brevity, as well as 



for the practical good sense they display. In their grotesque grace, in 
their quaint humor, in their trust in the simpler virtues, in their insight int / 
the cruder vices, in their innocence of the fact of sex, ^sop's Fables 
are as little children — and for that reason they will ever find a home in the 
heaven of little children's souls. 

THE STORY OF ADVENTURE IN THE 
FROZEN SEA. With 70 illustrations. Com- 
piled from authorized sources. 

We here have brought together the records of the attempts to reach the 
North Pole. Our object being to recall the stories of the early voyagers, and 
to narrate the recent efforts of gallant adventurers of various nationalities to 
cross the "unknown and inaccessible" threshold; and to show how much 
can be accomplished by indomitable pluck and steady preseverance. Por- 
traits and numerous illustrations help the narration. 

The North Polar region is the largest, as it is the most important field of 
discovery that remains for this generation to work out. As Frobisher de- 
clared nearly three hundred and fifty years ago, it is " the only great thing 
left undone in the world." Every year diminishes the extent of the un- 
known ; and there is a bare likelihood that Dr. Nansen has already explored 
the hitherto unexplorable. 

THE STORY OF EXPLORATION AND DIS- 
COVERY IN AFRICA. With 80 illustrations. 

Records the experiences of adventures, privations, sufi"erings, trials, dan- 
gers, and discoveries in developing the " Dark Continent," from the early 
days of Bruce and Mungo Park down to Livingstone and Stanley and the 
heroes of our own times. 

The reader becomes carried away by conflicting emotions of wonder and 
sympathy, and feels compelled to pursue the story, which he cannot lay 
down. No present can be more acceptable than such a volume as this, 
where courage, intrepidity, resource and devotion are so pleasantly min- 
gled. It is very fully illustrated with pictures worthy of the book. 

THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, or the 
Adventures of a shipwrecked Family on an Un- 
inhabited Island. With 50 illustrations. 

A remarkable tale of adventure that will interest the boys and girls. The 
father of the family tells the tale and the vicissitudes through which he and 
his wife and children pass, the wonderful discoveries they make, and the 
dangers they encounter. It is a standard work of adventure that has the 
favor of all who have read it. 

THE ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAIN- 
MENTS. With 50 illustrations. Contains the 
most favorably known of the stories. 

The text is somewhat abridged and edited for the young. It forms an ex- 
cellent introduction to those immortal tales which have helped so long to 
keep the weary world young. 



ILLUSTRATED NATURAL HISTORY. By 
the Rev. J. G. Wood. With 80 illustrations. 

Wood's Natur.\l Histoky needs no commendation. Its author has 
done more than any other writer to popularize the study. His work iz 
l<nown and admired over all the civilized world. The sales of his works iu 
England and America have been enormous. The illustrations in this edi- 
tion are entirely new, striking, and life-like. 

A CHILD'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By 
Charles Dickens. With 50 illustrations. 

Dickens grew tired of listening to his children memorizing the old-fashioned 
twaddle that went under the name of English liistory. He thereupon wrote 
a book, in his own peculiarly happy style, primarily for the educational 
advantage of his own children, but was prevailed upon to publish the work, 
and make its use general. Its success was instantaneous and abiding. 

BLACK BEAUTY; The Autobiography of a 
Horse. By Anna Sevvell. With 50 illustrations. 

This NEW ILLUSTRATED EDITION is sure to Command attention. Wher- 
ever children are, whether boys or girls, there this Autobiography should 
be. It inculcates habits of kindness to all members of the animal creation. 
The literary merit of the book is excellent. 

GRIMM'S FAIRY TALES. With 50 illus- 
trations, 

These Tales of the Brothers Grimm have carried their names into every 
household of the civilized world. 

The Tales are a wonderful collection, as interesting, from a literary point 
of view, as they are delightful as stories. 

ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES. By Hans 

Christian Andersen. With 77 illustrations. 

The spirit of high moral teaching, and the delicacy of sentiment, feeling, 
and expression that pervade these tales make these wonderful creations not 
only attractive to the young, but equally acceptable to those of mature 
years, who are able to understand their real significance and appreciate the 
depth of their meaning. 

FLOWER FABLES. By Louisa May Alcott. 
With colored and plain illustrations. 

A series of very interesting fairy tales by the most charming of American 
story-tellers. 

GRANDFATHER'S CHAIR; A History for 
Youth. By Nathaniel Hawthorne. With 60 
illustrations. 

The story of America from the landing of the Puritans to the acknowledg- 
ment ivithiut reserve of the Independence of the United States, 
told with all the elegance, simplicity, grace, clearness, and force for which 
Hdwthorue is conspicuously noted. 



